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MINIATURE 



OP 



DANSVILLE VILLAGE: 



HUMBLY INSCRIBED 



TO 



THE FIRST SETTLERS, 



AND THEIR 



IMMEDIATE DESCENDANTS. 



BY J. \V. CliARK. 



DANSVILLE, N. Y. 

PUBLISHED BY JOEL W. CLARK. 
1844. 



■/Xf 



t%^-~.r- 



Is 



INTRODUCTION. 



When we look attentively at almost any portion of the 
surface of the Earth, we discover evidences that consider- 
able changes have taken place since its original formation. 
Unimpeachable testimony argues the mind back to that dis- 
tant Past, when the fountains of the great Deep were broken 
up, and the windows of Heaven were opened. At almost 
every step, we discover Phenomina which the Deluge alone 
can explain. 

Were it appropriate, it might be interesting to the philo- 
8ophi« mind, to notice some of the time-enduring marks and 
Monuments which the retiring waters must have produced 
and left behind them, as memorials of their mighty agency. 
An agency by which the solid crust of the Earth was dis- 
solved, and a rocky nakedness effected on the tops and sides 
of ten thousand mountains, and unnumbered Pyramids 
reared up on the plains below. 

It is more than four thousand years ago since the Bow of 
covenant promise was first painted on the Cloud which over- 
shadowed the patriarch Noah on the summit of Ararat, 
demonstrating the change which had taken place in the con- 



•hution of the atmosphere, rendering it much more dense, 
ogad consequently much less pure and elastic. Our Marsh- 
al, Fens and stagnant waters which minister so materially 
to disease and mortality are evidently the Dregs of the Flood 
whose drainings could not become entire. These truths 
trgue a sickly atmosphere and bespeak an early grave. 

The site of this village and its immediate vicinity seema 
to have been a natural Basin which must have retained the 
water a considerable lime: the mounds and hills of sand 
which are so peculiar to our southern border must have been 
thrown up by the undefined whirl and commotion of these 
waters, as they retired in sublime and awful majesty. 

How long a period transpired before the first Indian Ar- 
row glanced along these streams — before the first Toma- 
Jkawk gleamed upon these mountains none can tell. How 
long a period transpired after the Red Man first desecrated 
the soil of these premises with animal blood before prepara- 
ti'ons were made for agricultural pursuits is equally difficult 
of solution. These centuries have bequeathed us no records, 
but have rolled silently away. 

Individual places like individual persons have claims up- 
on historians ; among these, some are more distinguished 
and require a broader page. 

The advantages and facilities of this place when estimated 
by calculating, business minds must be looked upon as a 
kind of public property, altho' but few may perceive the fact. 
This consideration has urged these imperfect sketches 
which may be censured for their defects, or feebleness, but 
the author consoles himself with the belief that no one will 
pretend that the picture is overwrought with thelabor of the 
brush. It is an extraordinary individual whose face pre- 
Mnts more than one prominent feature. In meeting with 
cne of this class, we meet many plain unmeaniog faces. 



Artists complain of the abscence of prominence in the ori- 
ginals which they are trying to copy. They feel most sen- 
sibly the want of some strong point, or lineament by which 
to identify the picture : something that will relieve from that 
smoothe monotony and vacancy which can never fix the eye. 
But when a plurality of highly marked features occupy the 
same face and hold it out to view, these being sketched, a less 
skilful hand may fill up the remainder. 

If the public mind shall find it difficult to discover the 
original of these sketches, it will not be, that our village pos- 
sesses no strong points, but on account of the feebleness of 
the artist who may not have been able to reach those 
very strong points and lineaments which stand out to behold- 
ers so prominently. There are many things which embar- 
rass a writer who attempts the history of any particular 
place. He must depend upon such dates and facts as the 
few remaining first settlers give him, and on such incidents 
as they relate. Under such circumstances an honest inten- 
tion to exhibit things as they were must be the amount of his 
responsibility. The humble drudge is exposed to censure 
without the hope of praise — to be disgraced by miscarriage, 
or punished for neglect, where success would have been 
without applause and diligence without reward. The una* 
voidable course to which a writer is sometimes constrained 
by cireumstances over which he has no control, exposed to 
accusations of a most unenviable character, and may award 
him a partiality for some certain class. But as the author 
has no high claims, upon the public, and expects little, or no 
reward for his humble services, he only hopes that sober 
minded men will do justice to his intentions. 

If these feeble efforts shall add any thing to this City in 
miniature; if they awaken any enterprise, or invite one Cap- 
italist, the author will not have toiled and endured in vain. 



ERRATA. 

Pago 10, for light, read tight. 

" 17, •• Bishop of Pay, read, Bishop of Pay. 

" 19, •• cerrian, read, certain. 

" •• " all do, •• all we do. 

•• 22, " drown, " drawn. 

" 30, •' this all, " all this. 

«• 30, «• contracted, read contrasted. 

" 31, " highest, " high. 

•' 32, " northeast, " northwest. 

" 83, " disposed, ♦• dispised. 

•• 38, •• Lockage, •' Leakage. 

«' •• " Leakage, " Lockage, 

« " " Lockage, " Leakage. 

*' 39, " boards and shingles, read boards and 
letntling. 



«JLTAMflSC 

.ol> 3// ii=^ '»■ .-'> n^: 

• ii"-.'/ ■;'' 






MINIATURE CF DAHSVILLE VILLASI 



When a neighborhood has advanced from a wilder- 
ness state to that of comfortable improvement, the 
contrast must be very impressive to such as remain of 
the first settlers. The hardships and incidents attend- 
ing these settlers must be very interesting to their 
immediate descendants. But as the incidents which 
are common to one family of first settlers are common 
to most of them, a very few need be mentioned. A 
studious enumeration of these casualties is as tiresome 
to sensible readers, as tautology is disgusting. 

There could have been, but little difference in the 
time that several families came into this place. There 
were some individuals, probably, within the town soon- 
er than the first settlement was made in this immedi- 
ate neighborhood, but as this part of the Canaseraga 
Valley is to be the subject of these pages, we com- 
mence with Messrs. Hammond and McCoy, who seem 
to have cut the first bushes and felled the first trees. 
It is not on account of any preference that one of 
these families is first introduced upon this page. Am- 
ariah Hammond and James McCurdy, Esqrs., who 
now reside in this village, on the same premises where 
they first settled, came here in 1795. Mr. Hammond 



8 

relates that during his first visit to this place, he slept 
two nights under a pine tree on premises which he af- 
terwards purchased. 

1 put a bell on my horse, said he, that he might not 
stray beyond hearing, but it was unnecessary, as the 
horse came as often as every hour to where he lay and 
disturbed his sleep; the horse seemed sensible of his 
lonely situation, and fearful in view of it. Our inform- 
ant says when the Sun rose over the hill, especially 
the first morning, the whole valley and surrounding 
scenery looked enchantingly lovely: straw-berries cov- 
ered the ground as he had never seen them, even in 
gardens; he could not step without destroying more 
or less of them. He, during that season built him a 
house, &c. ; the next April he removed his young fam- 
ily from Bath to this place: his wife and infant child 
on horse-back, his house-hold goods and farming uten- 
sils on a sled drawn by four oxen, and a hired man who 
drove the cattle. They staid the first night near, what 
is now called Blood's Corners, the second near the in- 
let of Conesus Lake, and on the third at sun-set, at his 
new residence. After some refreshment he said he 
must return to meet the man with the cattle, to which 
his wife could not be reconciled, and who can wonder. 
He found the man and cattle seven miles distant, he 
had ceased trying to advance, and wolves were on his 
track; when they arrived at home in the morning, they 
found that Mrs. Hammond had not been in bed during 
the night. The exquisite mental anguish which she suf- 
fered during those long and fearful hours no one can 
estimate. 



This valley had been the favourite abode of the In* 
dians, they had at this time an extensive burying ground 
near, or a httle west of where L. Bradner, Esq., now 
resides, on main Street, and the Monument of a de- 
ceased Indian Chief, where Mr. Picket resides. 

They were entirely friendly, they were here to 
hunt and occasionally held their dances here, but their 
chief residence was at what is now called Mt. Morris. 
Deer were abundant in, and especially around this val- 
ley: they were taken by the Indians in great numbers. 
Some time in this year, a Grist and Sawmill were 
erected and put in operation by Sir C. Williamson and 
Capt. D. P. Faulkner, nearly where Mr. Opp's Mill 
now stands Capt. Faulkner had purchased 6,000 acrei 
of land here and brought on ten or fifteen families. 

This Sir Charles Williamson came up the Susque 
Hannah, cut a passage for his boats up the Tioga river, 
and came to Bath as early as 1793 or 4. He was land 
agent to the Pultney Estate. Mr. Hammond says, 
when business called him to Bath, he slept one night 
under some bushy Hemlock tree, going and also re- 
turning; as the journey could not be performed in one 
day. 

When his first grass needed cutting, he had to go to 
Tioga Point to get Scythes: he went there, purchased 
two which wiih his travelling expenses cost him eleven 
dollars. It was common during the early settlement 
of this place, for the men to take provision with them 
and go into the woods to cut roads a week at a time, 
encamping on the ground at night. 

Canandaigua, and soon Genesee were points where 



10 

Bome few articles could be obtained for a families' com- 
fort, Capt. Faulkner brought the first goods to this 
place from Albany by sleighing, by the contraction of 
whose name and the addition of the word " ville," 
this place was named " Dan's-ville," and also the town- 
ship in which it then was. He seems to have been a 
worthy, enterprising gentleman, and having identified 
his name with the village and with the township on the 
south, his memory will be honored to the latest poster- 
ity. For more than fifteen years, says Mr. Hammond, 
there were no Rats in the place. It was stated at one 
time that there were one, or two in a box containing 
some fruit trees which were brought here: the people 
came together and put the box in a light room and 
found two rats and killed them. Long after this, the 
first settlers will tell you that they came here in droves, 
and every barn seemed to receive them at the same 
time. It is supposed that they came from Canandai- 
gua. If they had been received from there on the 
same terms that sheep are let out to double in three, 
or four years, and strict justice should be observed in 
returning what might be found due our Ontario friends, 
they certainlv would be rich in that kind of live stock, 
if value attached to them. 

There were many here as early as 1797, but the fam- 
ily of Mr. McCoy were here a little befoie Mr. H.'im- 
mond's. After introducing this family into this valley 
we shall desire the reader to understand that there 
were some families in the town of Sparta previous to 
either Mr. McCoy, or Mr. Hammond and that near 
this place, Mr. McCartney had settled with some oth- 



11 

ers. Mr. McCoy came from Painted Post, he was the 
step father of Mr. James McCurdy of this village. — 
They staid the first night at Bath, the second they en- 
camped in the woods, near what is now Liberty Cor- 
ners, the third they encamped in the woods near the 
inlet of Conesus Lake, the fourth at Mr. Havens in ths' 
north part of this town, and the fifth arrived in this 
place. Mr. McCurdy says there was a small hut for 
a surveyor where C. Welch now resides on Ossian 
street. 

At this time there was no white inhabitant in what 
is now the town of Dausville. On the south none near- 
er than Arkport. There was a Mr. Gregory and Dun- 
can a little north at this time. During the first winters 
they heeded no hay as the cattle preferred rushes 
which were abundant along the Canaseraga, which 
gave it the name of Rushbottom. 

Of these rushes, Mr. McCurdy says, the cattle were 
extremely fond, they grew as much in one winter, he 
says, as in two summers: horses did well on them in the 
winter but not in the spring. There was no Grist-mill 
nearer than the outlet of Conesus Lake, and at one time 
Mr. McCoy not being able to get the corn ground 
which he had bought of the Indians, the family had on- 
ly potatoes for three days. This family and others 
purchased meat of the Indians, at a settled price, the 
rate of exchange with this family was settled by Mrs. 
McCoy, Mr. McCurdy's mother. The price of a good 
hind quarter of venison was, two pumpions, six turnips, 
or two quarts of Indian meal. This was so perfectly 
understood, and so satisfactory to both parties that 



12 

there was no demurring; the Indian threw down his 
venison and took his pumpions or turnips without 
speaking and all wa« right. This currency Mr. Mc- 
Curdy says was a lawful tender through the valley. 

Mrs. McCoy seems to have been admirably quali- 
fied to originate a currency and establish the rate of 
exchange in an emergency like that of the first settlers: 
indeed she seems to have been highly qualified to coun- 
sel and advise in any trouble or emergency. 

She possessed a very strong mind of a peculiar cast 
which enabled her to originate expedients where ordi- 
nary minds entirely failed. She could have led an ar- 
my in advance, or retreat, where Generals have failed 
whose names have come down to us. 

It is true, it must sometimes cost more time and 
trouble to kill a deer than at some others, but it also 
costs more to grow pumpions and turnips some years 
than it did others which balanced exactly. If some- 
times some smaller denomination of this currency was 
called for than an entire pumpion or turnip, who does 
not perceive that a pumpion could be cut into parts, 
and that a turnip sliced into small pieces, for every pur- 
pose of change. This currency was independant of 
the general government, nor did they attempt tinkenng 
it to death, it was beyond their reach. It was equally 
beyond the reach of any president of veto memory. — 
Congress might debate, or quarrel, the president might 
exercise the veto power on bills which he himself had 
originated; little did Mrs. McCoy heed them, or the 
red man regard them. 

Rattlesnakes, says Mr. McCurdy, were so plenty, 



13 

that we killed from four to six daily. Whippoorwilla 
were also abundaint; he says that these snakes and bird8 
delight in the same soils, and the same timber. He 
thinks that neither rattlesnakes nor whippoorvvills,:Will 
live on soils which are unfriendly to winter wheat. — 
His brother purchased a firm in the town of Burns* 
but finding none of these snakes nor birds, he told hia 
brother James, he would not stay where rattlesnakes 
and whippoorwills would not live, and sold according- 
ly. It would not be in accordance with our sentiments 
to believe those creatures qualified to select habitations 
for our land speculators, yet we may well suppose that 
one of these ci-eatures would not live forty or fifty 
years in vain. During that period they may have lec- 
tnred the rising generations to the profit of thousands. 
In 1797, there was a horse race here or near by; got 
up by Mr VViliiamson. Gentlemen and horses were 
here from Virginia, and if the gathering was not as 
when Xerxes set out to invade Greece, there was 
enough to see that the horses actually run. The ven- 
erable Hugh McNair who wasemi loyed by Mr. VVil- 
iiamson to survey the Pultney land??, says that Mr. 
Williamson got up many horse races to get people 
from a distance that he might sell them land, and that 
more or less of the number that came to these races, 
ejcpiended all their cash and could not get home. These 
staid and many of them became settlers. Mr Mc- 
Curdy also informs us. that when their plough-shares 
%ecanie dull, ihey sharpened them upon a large stone, 
like a grind stone, as there was no black-smith in the 
county. Patent ploughs have since then dissmissed 



14 

those old fashioned instruments; a pntenl which if ta- 
ken in the entire extent of its usefulness, stands, per- 
haps at the head of all recent improvenienis. 

1 conclude these remarks of Mr. McCurdy by giving 
the public a lett(!r directed to nie on the subject of the 
first settling of this place. I give it in Mr. McC^urdy's 
own graphic style; it tells the whole siory in u few 
words and in his own straight-forward way. 

Mr. McCURDY'S LETTER. 

*' The first events which took place, in lbis toum and 
in the second year after our family came to this town — 
and the first that ever was in town known hy man. 

" Tlipfiru Summer we or the m<>st of the famihj had 
the fever and a^ue, but in the fall of the first summer 
my ^tep-fdthci , JVIcCoy and myself mudi' out to ch< ji logs 
enmigh In budd a log cabin 18 fet by 14 whiilfwe 
thought a very large house; the next thing was in (mr opin- 
ion t'le hardest part of all about oui log c ib.n, that nas 
to get itra.scd. But we found no troicbl'- in that, as we 
gave notice of our raising-day and some cirnie from. Gen- 
esee. Big-tree then, and Ind ans from JSIt. .Morri--. Jll- 
len's H.ll then, of the name of Jamiyon, ihr. old white 
woman's sons and other Indian.^. Si>7ne came Irom 
Post Town and somefnmi Bath. I yet rvviemtnr two of 
the gentlemen^s names that came from Post Town and 
Bath; the one from Post Tnwn was of the name of John 
Stag and the om from Bath, was of the name of Capt. 
Bull : for us boys sa;d that we expected a great fight 
when the Bull and -ytag would meet. 

*'Bu.t to ret urn to the -aiSing . We had hands enough 
and more than wc wanted, for the hands came mnstly lh€ 
day be fire and we got our f>uilding up and shingled in 
one day with bUfS-wuod bark which we had prepared m 
the summ' r. 



15 

"■T/ieJirst grist-mifl was built near or on the same spot 
where Mr. Op/is null now stands. The Jirst saw-mill 
tviis h:ilfon the sa/w- ground whei e the saw-mill noiO 
standi a small d sta>'Ce ahnoe Messrs. Bradleys' paper 
mill. The Ji'st tavern ivas kept by Samuel Faulkner. 
The first tanner and currier was Israel Fandiventer^ 
the first bl-n k-smith, iras James Porter, 

'•The first marriage, ica.^ WilUam McCartney to Ma^ 
ry Mci urdy; the Jirst school we. had was taught by 
Thmnas Maclrin. the first established preacher and 
founder of a church among its, was the Rev. Andrew 
Gi aij; the first justice nf thv -peace, wan Dr. James Faulk' 
tier, uncle to our James Favllver nt.w aviaug 11 -.■. The 
first Supervisor, was Amariah H'lmmorid; the. first town 
clerk was Lazarus Hamm-nTid, the first death. v:as Capt, 
Naihtni I Porter; ihr first constable was Henry Cruger. 
The first Post Master was Jared Irwin, the first goods 
was owned by (apt I). P Foulkner. fetched from Albany. 
The first militaiy captain was !). P. Faulkner, who form' 
ed a company of Grenadiers, mode application to the 
G(n:einor and gat the eqnijrnients sent from, or by order 
of him to the Capt., and so beautiful a company I never 
seen since. 

"My Mother was never much of a visitor, but one of 
her visits I yet remember; on the second, or next Suin~ 
mer nft'r we canie to this town,we heard that there was 
a family that had come and settled near the Bi<i- 31arsh, 
eleven miles from us, 07i the Cani.^tco pnth,as thci e wtre 
no roads then; Mother ddd MrCny that she mu.st go and 
visit them. Judge Hulhurt: she said ii was her place ia 
make the first visit; so McCoy agreed to it on condition 
she would return in time to milk in the evening; so she 
agreed t > that, and she chose me for her companion, and 
the next day off we put — got thtrc by eleven o^ clock, 
io-k dinnei' by one, and as ice had not much time to spare, 
U'e h'ld a hearty shake hands and put for home, which 
tee did in good time for milking." 

I ^ive this from the original because it sets things in 
60 clear a light, and compresses so much upon a single 



16 

ppge. It gives more facts and incidents of first set- 
tlers, than the author ever read in the same compass, 
and in a way that does honor to the writer. 

Mr. McCurdy, ahho' one of the weahliiest men, 
and the father of a very respectable family, is not' 
ashamed to tell the world about the first house which 
they built,and how they shingled it — he is not asham- 
ed of that economy and industi y by which he has ad- 
vanced iiimself and family to wealth and to the first 
rank in society. He is not ashamed of the lionorable 
means which he has successfully employed to set his 
promisin<j family in a position to do honor to him and 
themselves and to the place of their birth. 

Dr. Franklin tolls us that when himself and wife 
commenced house-keeping, they had scarcely any fur- 
niture; he says he eat milk in a pewter dish with a 
pewter spoon to save his little means that he might 
get along in his business. Little men never tell such 
stories. There is a class of men who if they prosper, 
they become dizzy and haughty; another class ol men 
who the higher they arc raised either by wealth, or 
office, the niore simple and dignified they appear. — 
the diflTerence betwen these two classes is. as the dif- 
ference between the thinest Gas and solid Gold. 

Many iiiteresting things might be said ol the other 
first settlers, such as Gregory, Duncan, Havens, the 
McCartneys McNairs, Fullertons, &c.. but it can 
hardly be expected; and seems unnecessary to say 
more than that most of these respectable families 
suflfered the same privations; and such of them as 
have died have left respectable representatives in 
their descendants. 



17 

Mr. Ferine came here in 1797 and being a revolu- 
tionary soldier, must not be omitted. He is quite aged 
and has suffered the partial loss of his memory; but the 
scenes of the revolution are yetvivid in his mind: he 
will not admit that our army was ever beaten, or that 
the Cavalry of the Pennsylvania Line, to which he 
was attached, ever retreated. He describes with 
much military feeling the mere "frolic" of cutting up 
the enemy, both men and horses, when they could get 
near enough to teach them the "Sword exercise." — 
Mr. Ferine was a soldier of those patriotic times and 
contributed his full share of noble daring in many a 
hard fought battle. 

We associate with this gallant soldier, the name of 
the patriotic and venerable Van Campen* of our vil- 
lage, whose prowess in defending his country and in 
dealing a righteous retribution to his merciless Captors, 
would have decorated his person with the " order of 
military merit," in the days of the celebrated "Bay- 
ard," or denominated him, " the flower of chivalry," 
when the warlike Bishop of Pay rode in advance of 
the crusading armies of Europe, 

Considerable additions had been made to the settle- 
ment by 1800. Merchandise came up the Susquehan- 
nah, into the Tioga and Cohocton and then into the 
Canisteo to Arkport, in the returning Arks which car- 
ried wheat. 

Baltimore in Maryland, and Montreal in Canada, 
were the market places. 

L. Bradner Esq. who has transacted so much busi- 

*See Life of Van Campen. 

2« 



18 

ness in this village and the surrounding country, came 
here during the late war; he considered it very I'avor- 
ably located for nnarket, being so near the navigable 
waters of the Canisteo; he says he went to Ark port, 
rode his horse into the water and measured its dejith. 
What astonishing changes have taken place; then the 
wheat was carried to Arkport and stored until high 
water in the Spring, and then carried in Arks down 
fhese several streams into the Chesapeake Bay and 
found a market in Baltimore. 

In 1808 the late, and much lamented Col. Rochester 
made a purchase here, he built and put into operation 
the paper mill which is now owned by our present 
senator; this gave some im])ulse to business. This ex- 
cellant man and gallant officer of the revolution, the 
friend of Washington, and corresjiondent of Jefferson 
tind Rladison, has since then identified his name with 
one of the finest cities in the world, of which he wa§ 
one of the honored lounders; yet honorable as these 
may be. they lose, when compared with the ciiduiing 
monuments of christian benevolence which he has 
reared up wherever he has resided. He gave the pub- 
lic, the burying ground in this village. 

This purciiase, Col. Rochester sold to that talented 
and j)ious clergyman of the Lutheran church, Air. En- 
dress, in company wiih Mr. Jacob Opp, Mr. Opp was 
quite an accession to this place; he put machinery in 
operation and employed laborers to tlie advantage of 
the neighbourhood. 

Dr. James Faulkner came here from Bath, in 1813 
and contributed his share in multiplying the business 



19 

and dnvc'lopinir iho importance of ihe locafion. The 
suDouiiding towns had greatly increased their popula- 
tion and consequently ilie farniing interests. 

It is tiuly t)Ieasing to hear the few rennaining first 
settlers speak of the good feedings which })rev ailed du- 
ring those primitive times, and lament the apparent 
want of brotherly kindness at the present period. — 
They tell ns, that when an emigrant fainily arrived, 
they all went to work to build them a house, expecting 
no reward, "^['hey would prepnrC the materials, build 
the house, and put the family into it the same day. — 
The speak of feelings peculiar to ihose times, before 
that calculating spirit v^hich obtains upon the mind as 
places become older, had turned the hcai t from its du- 
ties. Before the rctign of that cold arithmetic of dol- 
lais and cents, (if purchases and sales, of a cerrain per 
centage on all that do or say. It is peculiarly l.mient- 
able that these same indiviiiuaU who partook so large- 
ly of these generous feelings, became changed as cir- 
cumstances and places change, and their own bosoms 
become invaded by that (dose and calculating arithme- 
tic which schools entire comn unities. These men will 
tell you that their enjoyments are less than when ca- 
nals and radroads were things unknown — as unreal as 
their ficeting dreams; when after their days work was 
accomplshed, they obtained the knowledge of the 
pasture grounds ol their only cow, by the sound of her 
distant bell — when some warm milk served the family 
for supper, and all retired to rest, grateful for so many 
rich, and undeserved mercies Yet there is more dif- 
ference in the circumstances under which men are plac- 



20 

ed, and in the inducements which surroud them, than 
there is in their hearts. Where there is but litle tempt- 
ation there will be less vice than where circumstances 
and inducements continually urge into sin. This seems 
to be the great difference between such as first settle 
in a new country and such as live after them. 

There is such a thing, as vitiated taste, when applied 
to society, and it frequently exists, and governs in re- 
spectable families, but this, altho' undeserving as it is, 
differs widely from those morbid hungerings whose cra- 
vings can only be ministered to by European imita- 
tions and Parisian contortions of dress. 

During the late war there was an accession of bus- 
iness men to this place; there had been several stores of 
goods and something transacted in that way; but it 
was the late Joshua Shepard who more fully anticipa- 
ted the wants of the surrounding country. 

Mr. Shepard was a methodic straight-forward busi- 
ness man, who coanseled his customers soundly re- 
garding their purchases: they still speak of him with 
much respect and defference. Mr. Shepard as a bus- 
iness man, and as an honest merchant had few equals: 
he deserved his property. 

It is among the sober truths which regard this vil- 
lage, that it has been crowded to take every step it 
has yet taken by the surrounding country. If this is 
saying little of the enterprise of our villagers, it cer- 
tainly speaks well of their caution and prudence. — 
While in some places by overdoing and by anticipation 
serious embarrassments have been experienced, this 
village has escaped such disasters. 



21 

The manufacturing o^ leather was commenced ear- 
ly in this place, and has been found a safe and profita- 
ble liusiness. 

Tiicre are places possessing fewer advantages than 
this, that have created their own business for a time, 
but it has been found, that to do so safely, the location 
must possess many favoring fiicilities. 

The city of N. York lias become what it is by its 
coniinercial position, and other advantages, which has 
given its custom house an aniaziiig revenue. 

This revenue has not been obtained by the creation 
of business within the city, but by the wanJs ot' such 
as have sought lier harbor. That city has been urged 
and crowded onward by mei'chanl shi|js from every 
kingdom of l:^urope. and by tlie commercial wants of 
all these states: while some other cities have built them- 
selves, must experience a decrease of population and of 
the rent of their tenements, and satisfy themselves 
with second hand or commission business. Therei'ore, 
comparing small with greater, much greater things, we 
find the example for safety and g-owth to partake of 
that whi.h has been peculiar to this little village. 

If this village occupies a comparative elevation, it 
is that the country has forced it up; the credit cannot 
in justice be set to any other account. 

It was during the late war that L. Bradner Esq. com- 
menced business here, and others soon assisted in sat- 
isfying the demands upon the jjlace. 

The writer is not informed of the express year 
that S. W. Smith came here but it is well known that 
he has been for some years one of our principal mer- 



22 

chants, and has done a very respectable biisitiess. — 
Since ilu; I t., war this viHage has been a larorite re- 
sort foe [lurchMsers 

This has been a farming, rather than a manufactur- 
ing |)l.ii-e Our chief merch;ints have been found 
nnioiit,' our huavi(!st f irmers; they have divided tiieir 
time between the duties of the counting room, and 
their (locks of sheep, their me;idows, and their wheat 
fields. Our inanufa'^'turi;rs and mechanics have taken 
the same course, which argues that things are nearly 
right in the store, ihe factory and the shop. This has 
not o'dy given confidenc(! in the soundness of the place, 
but it has ke[)t down that coiiiemptible aristocracy of 
feelings which has drown a line around villages like 
this, and counted all profane beyond it. Then there 
has been much talent displayed ni sorting into 1, 2. 3. 
land fourth classes of privileged gentry. 

This poor lit'le mimic thing has then acted the lu- 
dicrous sublime, in a[>ing and mocking most awkward- 
ly. Th(;so accomplished and most courily gentry 
■would faint at once if brought in contact with the 
good old fashioned folks of "Communipau," ur the ster- 
ling habits ot "Sleepy Hollow.'' 

It was n'U fir from this time that the Messrs. Bray- 
tons and oth(;r respectable families made tfieir settle- 
ment in the town of Dans\ille between whom and this 
place there has .been so mueh muiual dependence, 

KStorc-keej)ing can never be fjund prf)liiable very 
near any considjrable place, especiallp if sueli place is 
on any navigable waiter. vSo many things combine 
their inlluence in centering the surrounding country up- 



23 

on such n spot, that business mon will commence their 
business ,whcr(; biisincss is. The |)i;rcf);ises ni;ulo hero 
in ni'Trliandise tor twenty yc;;irs ])ast vvoul.l nniount 
to a very heavy sum: yet the amount for the next 
twenty y(^•l»•s must throw tiial sum entirely into the 
shaiU;; (!vcn in these timts there are heavy sdes, and 
tlieseare ra[)e('ily iiicreasin^f. 

In 1JS22. the inhabitants of this quarter section, peti- 
tioned to be setoff from the town of Dansvilie, (.ounty 
of vSteul)en. and set onto JSparta, Ounty ol l.ivin^L'ston, 
which ojenei} a field ibr some tuctand and difilwmacy. 

The petitioners assigned as their reason, the extreme 
diflicnlties in the way of getting to Bath, and their bus- 
iness general y led them in tiie opposite direction, that 
the )(ia<l was comparatively good to Ctem seo, and tliat 
their business obhged ihem to go there und ii. iliat di- 
rection irecjuenlly. This petition was olijccliui toby 
their southern neighbors, in as much as ihey did not 
like to see the importan<'eof their town lessened, nor 
did they desire to lose a village v\hich tiiey called their 
own. V\ e may well suppose that there was less of 
state tact and court dif)loiriacy than sometimes takes 
place in the city of Washingt<m or at the courts of 
St. JameK and St. Cloud, and probably less of excite- 
ment than Ireland and England are experiencing in 
O'C'oiinell *s repeal of the union; yet there seems to 
have been sufficient to call forth considerable talent. 
The legislature however heard and answered the 
prayer of the petition, and this three miles square was 
set onto Sparta in tlie county of Livingston. 

Soiiic ol the inhabitants of the town of Dansvilfe, 



g4 

have suggested shrewder reasons for this separation 
than was contained in said petition. They will tell vou^ 
with much ** Sang froid," that having become able to 
outvote their friends in this section, and having a can- 
didate loo popular for their taste, that dispairing of gov- 
erning as heretofore, they drew off into Sparta. 

The probability is that there was a sort of national 
feeling peculiar to both parties, as many of the inhabit- 
ants here, were from Pennsylvania, while there, they 
were many of 'them fiom Hartford, Washington Co. 
which may help to account for some little unlikenoss 
and feeling. However all this may be, the separation 
did take place for reasons either within, or wiiiiout the 
record of the petition, as any man may rce for himself, 
without the opinion of any sound constitutional Law- 
yer. 

These suggestions are not posted up here to morti- 
fy these proud and newly made Spartans and Livings- 
tonians, nor for any mischievous reasons, but simply 
to admmister a little to the humility of this three miles 
square, and to set things in their proper attitude for fu- 
ture historians. It has been this faithfulness in record- 
ing which has brought down to us the facts of fo:mer 
ages and the actions of heroes; and this transaction 
may find a place in some abler work than this. Before 
dismissing this interesting subject it seems necessary 
to say, that losing the court end of their town must 
have humbled our southern neighbors sufficiently. '^ 

In 1823, a case was argued in the Court of Errors 
which had been carried there from the Court of Chan- 
cery, which seemed to hazzard in some measure the 



35 

titfe of OUT settlers to their lands. These tands had 
been purchased of the Pultney estate, as the facta set 
forth below will show more clearly 

*'SARAH WILSON atd others AP ELL ANTS 

ROBERT TROUP and others RESPONDENTS. 

WilJinm M'ilson< the father of the appellants, late of 
Northumberland Ptntisylvania, deceased, held an interest 
in a contract with Char les Willimnson fur 6,000 acre9 
of land in Steuben and Ontario Counties, which Wil- 
Uamson was to convey fur the consideration of i^775 N. 
York currency, Oct 6, 1796, Wilson gave a power of At' 
torney to Daniel Faulkner to receive conveyance with 
warranty, and eif cute bonds and mortgages to Williavi' 
son, and do and perform all things necessary to secure 
the pur cha<;t money. Oct. 21sf, 1796, Faulkner rec d. the 
defd and executed the bond and :nortgages accoi dingly.-^ 
'I his m'Ttgage included a special power to the mortga- 
gee to sell the land and cause the money due on default 
of the mortgager to pay according to contract or bond. — 
The mortgage, but not the pon-er to Faulkner, was reg* 
istered in the Clerks office of Steuben Co. Oct. 27th, 1796. 

Williamson, assignee! the mortgage to Sir Wm. Pult' 
nry. who died intestate in 18!) 5, leaving Henrietta Laura 
Pultney Countess of Bath [wife of Sir John Pultney) his 
only child and heir at law. She died in July 1808, intes- 
tate, as to her real estate, which descended to Sir John 
Lowther Jithnslone her sou and heir at law. 

On the death of Sir William Pultney, the respondent 
Robert Troup took out letters of administration on his 
estate. F'om 1800, to l&l I, the respondent as agent suc- 
cessive of Sir William Pultney and Johnstone, sold and 
conveyed parcels of th" mortgaged premises to eleven 
other appellants. Notwith.standin g these sales, Troup, 
as administrator of Sir Wm. Pultney Oct. 16(A, 1810, 
advertised the mortgaged premises for sale under tha 
fower in the m.orlgage, and in April 1811, sold them to 

3 



20 

( ^Samuel S. Ilaighp^tliP h'lghesl bidder, ai $350, y/^(3 

'bought at the rrgufst of Troup, and the same day convey- 

' ed the premises fur a nominal sum to Johns/one and his 

wife. Haight xous an atiorncy and under ihe dircdion 

of Troup aided in condiiding the fo echsure lie ^oas' 

sxUmined as U witness heUnv, to impeach ihe prbceedings, 

undone question was, whether he loas admissible. The 

, power of sale was-proved by <i subscribing witness, before 

■^'ct master in ( Kanccry "f this State, but who went' into 

1 Pei>nsylv'ama to take the proof 

^[\] Nov. '20th. iSiid and registered Dec 13//i. 18^''9. Jhis 

" terror toos not discovered till after the sale, when on the 

\ SthofJmie 1812, /A." powir was regularly proved, a'doji 

•. the [Ith of June duly record/ d. William Wil.sou died 

'. iiitestate. in 1313 and the oppellants. his heijs at law. — 

, Since the sale at auction in 1811, Troup, as cgcnt of the 

" ■. Puttncy estate had gone <>n sellino; different parcels of 

the miirtgagrd premises, till on the 2dih Sept. 1820, ihe 

appellants filed ihrir bill to redeem, and for on account. 

The bill also charged unjairiiess and fraud in cn- 

ducting the sale under the power. 'The fuels being up' 

' .,, ,0/J the question with the additional facts which it is deem- 

*^"cd material to notice arc siiff,:iciitl.y stated in the opiniojl 

of the Judg s and by the ('KanteVor .in giving the reasons 

..pfhisdtcre^', which was, io^isiais'i the bill without co^ts.^' 

The court decided unanimQusly^ yia^t the decree of 
, ,\1iis Honor the Chancellor, be confirmed with costs. 

- TCowon's Reports 2nd Vol. page 195.] 

\k):/'^ ••;•^.^ v.! %■■> .'iUtl 

This suit, the reaJer will percei'vd wiks''sbflttfi6rrt to 
greatly alarm the settlers, as a decision in favor of the 
appellants would have injured them extremely. 

Having purchased of ihe Pultney estate, they could 
. . only have recovered thft consideration money which 
' Athey had paid, which in many instances was very little, 
^,]i ^hiie they had made large and expensive improve- 



27 

menf s. Thfise' gftlftefs appointed A. 'R^tnrrtond Esq. 
their afircrit. to ffo to Albaiiv and offer such assistance ' 
as he could; and unqucj^tionahly they made an appro- 
priaf e'*seiect Jdni " Mr': Hanirtiond'6btliiirted 'the servibes' 
of bur Ex-Presrderit' Vtih B'uren, then orifv karfin Vaiilf-'"* 
Bufe^i'Esrl.-'^^' ■- :-:-r-..- :^ -./t i. •. : ■: : :> ..,u)rt 

The^ attorneys on both sides were of the first'brd^i* '' 
of tulbhts vvhich wore taxed to the utmost during three 
days." The sinnple,""easy riiid imposing way in which "^ 
Mr'l^iSii fiitren st;aterd'''fh(^"rtict^ of the crise, artd the' *' 




4 

this siiit;' liiu'st g'iV^evWerfce (o'aH, fhatliis'ihi^llectiy^ '* 
of fhe'^iilghest ord^r.' ' Th6J!e'art p^M-liVi'^is^ffbtTae' df ^^ '''^ 
fevv' spf^cimen^ ot 'thlit' ''inde"s6rrb'able soi'^iethlng aBbuf * 
thu liian, whl^lT(-hiis*^giyh'''''hir»i' % fritlBh-sLTcHiiSg.Wa*'* 
Poiilician. thG'otd'lt3tfR^rJ-''Wiy#il boteBMi iW^ 
him fpi;wh;U'h6 a(<\:bhipilshfed for'lfi^.fif'^ noiJfltioqznml 

l^tb'st of 'thbse/'Vho w: n; tlicn pci-^rnrilly intefVeSt&a 
m this kilt.' 'are* ntiw in- a world of spirits, andiiv^-fe'^ortly;^';'* 
in their vcrv res))ectable descendants. ''^^'^ 9!«fiJi»ig 

^.x;i .MjC,G^rd,y^,,fpeakiiig of llic kindness of. ^thpS€i,^^. 
times, remarked,; '' that if any yvc^pc^ si^v all of us were ^ 
troubled, if", ^i]:^ one died, .we.f^jl ^.e^t,''.aud.thci^.no- .^. 
ticed.lhe (]/jath o.|", l)irs.^ IIiwwnont(..^Vk;h<^ bc^said.i'.'had, ^ 
endeared herself to thom by all her virtpe?., Whea 
she.died.aU wept,,who .had JieaiMs, aad^eyp^.,'.!^^ ;,. ., ,. 

Thoi^e 'is ro doubt bat the first's°ti[lei's' had ^helr vi*':» 
cesrdncJ'-somethnes exhibited sufficient evidfeficeotf*'^* 
strong depravity, as well as others, but as the*remairf- '*'* 



28 

ing few speak with mu«*h affection and in tern^s of high 
respect, it certainly becomes us to tread as lightly as 
they do. upon the ashes of all the dead. 

In 1825, the inhabitants of this valley united with 
those of the Genesee valley, in a petition to the legis- 
lature, for a canal from Rochester to Olean, with & 
branch to this place. 

There were large quantities of surplus produce 
which required a ready market; the article of lumber 
was an important one: timber was abundant on the 
Bouth, and in some places there seemed little else to be 
disposed of Considerable quantities of lumber have 
been rafted down the Canisteo and putting into sever- 
al streams, had reached the Chesapeake. But it wag 
found thai however well seasoned, it became water 
soaked and otherwise injured, sometimes by those un- 
avoidable misfortunes under which heavy losses have 
been sustained. The want of a cheaper and safer 
transportation was extremely embarrassing. 

As much had been done for other sections of thii 
gtate, we claimed this from the legislature, as our le- 
gitimate due. 

Some attempts had been made to obtain a canal, in 
previous years, but now our hopes were strong; but 
railroads had become the order of the day, and after 
eome time a grant was obtained for a railroad from 
Rochester to this place. The stock was subscribed, 
yet after the usual excitement, there, here and on the 
proposed route, it shared in the destiny of hundreds of 
cities and villages of the far west, of which nothing 
was ever seen but the lands on which they were intend- 
ed to stand. 



29 

It is truly astonishing that the entire population of 
the country should have been seized alike with a spec- 
ulating mania; all were to become rich without labor, 
purchases in what was considered favorite places was 
to heap wealth upon every speculator. The amazing 
rise of lands in consequence of this excitement was hej 
yond all rational estimates; hence the severity of the 
reaction. When men who had thought themselves 
wealthy were stripped of their imaginary ea])ital and 
their real estate began to receive a fair valuation and 
no more; when the fog and h.ize had left the atmos- 
phere and the sky, when the old fashioned arithmetic 
come again into use by which men estimated the val-« 
ue of what an acre of land would produce in the mar- 
ket, after deducting the costs and interest on the land, 
it w^as like defrauding a man out of his property or 
like cheating him out of his real estate. As a vast 
amount of properly was thus swept away so uncere- 
moniously, we charged the government with destroy- 
ing the country and reducing us to very unpleasant 
circumstances. It was truly piteous to see many cost- 
ly Palaces» Cities, villages and all that imposing livery 
in which all things glittered so courtly and so aristo- 
cratic, swept, as the baseless fabric oi a vision, leav- 
ing but the mere wreck behind. 

During those times of creating capital by calling one 
dollar, ten, the states in their legislative capacity be- 
came phrensied with the prevailing epidemic, ;md at- 
tempted things beyond the reach of all ordinary means; 
asifakindof omnipotence had been conferred upon 
them. Such is the embarrassment of some of the 
3» 



% 

States in consequence of this unsound Jegislatioh, that 
<heir choicest lands are scarcely worth having, as the 
direct tax which is only equal to the interest on their 
debt, renders them almost valueless. Add to this all 
our present standing "on change'^ in all the great mon- 
ied establishments of Europe and the picture is Suffi- 
ciently mortifj'ing. ^ •' *^ ;.:...;:;.;. ^ ' t; K.i .: ; H J ( 

In 1835, thepetitio!j'\^*a^aghi#'adrfr%il//d tothef^gPsi 
lature for the Genesee valley canal and a branch to this 
place. During this session Judge Carroll was an active 
member of the legislature in its favor, and Judge Faulk- 
ner was the efficient agent from this place. M uch is due 
tbese Gentlemen for their perseverance, talents and 
tact in the face of that strong array in the House and 
out of it which conlracted with them at all points — 
The bill at last passed bV''yery handsome majorities/ 
and in 1S37, this branch' vva's located. 

The commissioners w ere Jonas Earlc, Jr. David Ba- 
ker and John Bowman. Whatever dissatisfaction 
may have existed in the minds of any on account oF 
the location, it is ceitain that no water power in this' 
village was disturbed' aiid'only 83 feet'tbbeovercohife* 
by eight lo< ks; but we i-efer all who are interested in' 
this location to the oaths of office under which these 
commissioners acted. ""^^ '*'^**^' ^'^=" ■*'''^' -''^ A^* 

The making of this canal gave an impulse to busi- 
ness in this place, by the employment yvhich it demand* 
ed and by the mnterials,,yvhich it j required to make, 
and complete the mechanical struclures. , ,, 

There were many buildings put up at the tim^jof 
commencing the canal, as the pressure of the tiinpi^ 
had not yet been felt severely. 



31 

It is among the unanticipated things which are ta- 
king place, that the building of houses continues, and 
some excellent buildings are yet going up. Notwith- 
standing the great number which has been built within 
the last four j'ears, for a place so small as this, it is 
coiniiion to hear the inquiry, for some house or room 
to accommodate a family. Building Lots are sought 
for, and fair prices paid for these accommodations. 

It is believed that soon our population, willj be doubly 
the present number. ^ii.^ ■ '.- / : w:; r.'-r/J 

Were a description of this va!Tey atid immediate vi- 
cinity attempted, perhaps it would be done as accu- 
rately by saying, it is not very unlike some vast am[)hi- 
theatro in its appearance. That part of the valley 
which is intended to be describL'd, is about five or six 
miles north and south, and one and a half east and west, 
with an aj)parent level surface, surrounded by hills of 
considerable elevation with only such openings, or 
doorways as might seem sufficient for the ingress and 
egress of the vast multitudes which might assemble on 
the most pompous occasions. 

The highest hill, or mountain on the east, the more 
gradual assent on the west to about the same altitude, 
the Continuation of these around us on the south like 
some vast frame work for seats, elevated one above 
another to a great height for the acconimodation of 
many thousands of spectators, from which they might 
discover with much distinctness the imposing specta- 
cles on the plains below. Perhaps millions might find 
seats from which they might witness the sublime ex- 
hibitions which might be transacting on the extended 



level surface before them. There are but three open- 
ings or gateways by which such immense jnultitudef 
could appioac'h this valley, and these seem only suffi- 
cient for such a purpose. jj y.,;;;>,-5g|^ 
The hills curve around us so almost entirely, th^ 
they leave but narrow apertures between them. 

On the north, or northeast, there is a more spaciouii 
gateway as if multitudes wore expected from that di- 
rection; in the southwest along the direction of the 
Canaseraga (ilrcek, it is narrower, and on the southeast 
in the direction of Mill Creek, it is also moderate, as if 
fewer thousands would approach from these directions. 

The streams of water at the foot of these highlands, 
and such as penetrate this valley and cross it, might 
afford sufficient quantities for both men and beasts du- 
ring the session of so grand an assembly. 

Had; the Greeks resided near us, a more delighlfirl 
place for the celebration of the Olympic games can 
scarcely b3 imagined. Here they might have found 
ample room and natural accommodations when these 
games exerted the strongest influence among the na-, 
lions. A more desirable place for their chariot races 
can hardly be imagined. 

Here, to, the Romans in their haughtiest days might 
have celebrated their proudest trmmphs. ,., ■ 

This valley seems thrown out from thatpf theGeji-; 
esee for the accommodation of the surrounding country; 
a depot; an outpost of the city of Rochester. 

The extent of the surrounding country, together with- 
the ability and wants which it possesses, must eventu- 
ally urge this village into a city. Its advantages S!a«*^i.x 



33 

sufficient for a population of fifteen or twenty thousand 
inhabitants. 

There is an extent of couniry on the south and south' 
west with numerous rising villages which have not 
been estimated correctly. The staple ol some part of 
this coui.trv is lumber which for many years will seek 
transportation from this place. Altho' something has 
been done in preparing and transporting this valuable 
article, the quantities which are in preparation convmce 
us that the work is only commenced. ]f we anticipate 
a scan-ity in our immediate vicinity, the increasing de- 
mand will increase its value, and more distant forests 
will supply the market. If those who manufacture 
lumber tind it a safe business at the present prices, we 
need not learlor that article, .is prices arc steadily in- 
creasing. It must continue to employ many hands for 
a long time to come. 

Nor are these lands entirely worthless if every pine- 
ry was already removed. The Hudson river counties, 
with those on the line of the Erie (;)anal, do not make 
the entire territory of this stale. So far as pauperism i» 
concerned, Steubrnand Allegany will show very strong 
claims to industry and morality; and it will not be ad- 
mitted, that counties where property is most equally 
averaged are the most undeserving. These sections* 
which have experienced so much legislative neglect, 
and have borne it with so much patience, may yet dis- 
close a mineral wealth which may astonish such as have 
disposed them. These sections being so nenr some of 
the mining districts of Pennsylvania, renders this antic^ 
ipation less improbable. 



34 

If you enquire of some of our principle itierrhants 
where their best customers resiJe, they will tell you 
in Steuben and Allegany. .... 

It i'S one of the peculiarities of this place that-rfTt^'^-^'*^ 
specfable business is d()in<j during each season of ihe''^** 
year; it is cohimon that our roads arc socrowdt^d with ' " 
teams in thevvinter, that they cmliarrass each other. ' 
Having Idng'ehtertained tfie opinion ihairoiii^'-s('>Wth'ef"iV-*' 
tier of counties have suffl;red ander a long deferred 
justice, will be a sufficient apo'ogy for this digression. ' 

The preparing t!us arj.er,^ ,whi^-Ji j^va«;^t^),gjyQ^lj|ie^., 
and vigour .to ^pu.r.;Acill;ige'? gave scjpne ,jmj^^ls^jto;,t>h^;,, 
place, but when it^ was completed, ,and ji.Gcoryed thq., 
wateri^, pf j>lill ,Cree,l^^,ai, ils.te];uiiaj^tir^ijY^^v^-^^^ 

bo^tYopv^d HJ??f>'^'^-'rf'>^>'^^'-'i"? ^-J?if*l^>^'frgf^f'frn tQirpn- 
gle with tliose of the lakes ;md rivers qf this, ,v\^ndeijf; 
ful state, and find their level at last in the bosom oi'the 
AtlatilTc it Was ce'rtainly''a,pcHod Of mufe'h r:^#cii6({i 
and f\;elii.g. ufJ^ar .hyro.. 

Th e re w a s so m c t h i ng 'f tiRl i hi e i n ^ h S% e a , t ! i a t s t re a m s ' 
of%ft*t*r so letsired' 'dnd iinadvertis'ed, sid'Wni51b'fe-?ri?*'^' 
theii* clalrfis, ^Hbd^d ' coiiirfiinglc^ arid %!«so(-i';fte'iri -f Itat'-^ * 
bay wh'6V^ 'the %if ip'iWg of b^l tiatrOnk'd fspla'y ihdi r fld^^SV''' ' 
But wheii'a distant.' inland village 'tvdfe'fddnd lei' bb' 
neS.ftii^"fhe*|;reat j)oriil oF t!dmmercia'] at/facfio'h'rarid "' 
all the siih-buh'dirtg countrymalung'ihe same hd<-iatices,'.* '" 
and broucrhl into close hciahliorhodd \'vilh the line of-" 

cities^bn 'the Effe' cahrtl.'-Silti- w'hivh' wace 1 he 'banks of 

* i » ■ ■ "^ ' f"' 

the Hudson, eniovinLT irftfnVat'c c««hneci ion With that "^ 

great l^mporiurn whose wharves he Vvct with the''^' 

waves of the Atlantic, it seemed mipossible to rcpres^ ' 



35 

^j^that gush of feeling which the heart pours forth in its 
own relief. Tiiu coinparatively cheaj) and easy trans- 
j. portation of the increasing products of the country, to- 
•gether with the importing su-^mi articles as the country 
demanded, to our very doors, was both novel and in- 
teresting. , Tht^ g'*eAt saving to consunners, and ihe 
quantities and kind of produce which il^ became safe to 

.transport upon ihis highway of water affbided an in- 
teresting estinriate in calculating minds. Those sec- 
tions of country which ftad been so far retired, as not 
to have been favored with even the twihght of a com- 
mercial sun, began now to stand out in prominent re- 
lief with the light of day upon them. Sections which 

.'.-had been looked upon as the shreds and patches of a 
cast away g.irment came forward in the, vigor of man- 
hood to share in a long deferred jusiice. ■ 

This w.iter communication gave a new valuation to 
every thing about us, by an estimate which placed us 
among I'avored communities. It called into active 
employ enei'gies which were almost dormant, and mul- 
tiplied tbejndustry of a large re:.: ion of country by hold- 
ing out the legitimate inducements. 

It searched out those distant forests which could not 

tr*have hoped to participate in any favorable market. — 
It was said of ihat great man DeW itt Clinton, at the 
completion of the Erie Canal, 

'' The smallest rill, the mightiest river 
Flow minghng with his fame forever." 

When we look seriously at the natural and legisla- 
tive difficulties to be overcome, and that internal im- 
provement had ceased to be popular, there is some- 



36 



thing due the agent from this place, and as locaF feel- 
ings wear away that senator will be appreciated. 

In 1839 a Bank was established in this village, call* 
ed the " Bank OF Dansville " under what is called 
the new banking law, or free banking; based upon 
Slate Stock and mortgages on real estate. It seems 
to have been the policy of the Board of Directors to 
make it strong, as no dividends have been declared. 

The following report will show its state: 

Statkment January 1st, 1814. 



Bonds and Mortgages, 
Michigan Stock, 
Dis. BiiJs - 
Due from Banks 
Real Estate, 
Personal Estate, 

CASH. 

Office, 

Notes of other Banks, 

Specie, - . - 



22,783 
9,336 
4,853 53 



1 145,591 


46 


50.000 




47,622 


80 


34,691 


17 


784 


.69 


2,097 


60 


30.972 


53 



117,760 25 



Capital Stock, - - . 
Surplus Fund, - - - - 
Office Notes, - . . 

nuK commissioners: 
Canal Fund, - - . . 
Treas. State N. Y., 

" Banks, - - - - 

Individual: — Depositors, - 

$317,760 25 
L. Bradner, President; 
L. C. Woodruff, Cashier. 



153',2i>0 




33.073 


77 


91,250 




5,711 


24 


477 


32 


44 


00 


33.953 


92 



37 

It may be interesting to some to see the first esti- 
mate which was made of the rout of this branch canai, 
when first surveyed for the information of the legishi- 
tliro, in 1834 or 5. The entire cost $150,604 25.— 
But' when it was finally located it was contracted for 
^375,554 89. This excetds the first esiimate, $218, 
950 64. This siiows some part of the difficulties that 
lay in the wav. Distance from Mt. Morris to Dans- 
ville, is \Gh miles. At Mt. Morris dam the canal as- 
cends by two locks 23 feet to the hill side, and there 
passing along the slope of the hill upon which the vil- 
Inge is situated, it continues up the west side of the 
Canaseraga valley to Dansville, crossing Buck run, 
Cashuqua creek, Bullers run, Stoney creek. Bradner's 
creek and Canaseraga creek, by wooden aqueducts on 
stone piers. The aqueducts for passing the second 
mentioned streams are most important. The former 
has three and the latter four stretches of 25 feet each. 
From the end of this level to l)ansvii!c, there are eight 
locks, overcoming an ascent of 83 feet. Lock No. 1 
is 8 leet lift; Nos. 2 and 3, 11 50-100; Nos, 4, 5, 6, 7, 
and 8, 10 40-100. The total cost from Mt. Morris to 
Dansvillc, as reported to the legislature, was $165, 
388 96. Mill creek, which it receives at its termina- 
tion, was estimated at 1 980 cubic feet per minute. — 
The Canaseraga creek which it receives near Woods- 
ville, was estimated at 3,271 cubi'c feet per minute.— 
The amount of water needed from Mt. Morris, is es- 
timated at 2,032 cubic feet per minute. [See Engi- 
neer's Report.] These measurements were made in 
O;tober; in August they may have been less: indeed, 
the estimate of these waters made at another time, 
may differ considerably from the above. Evaporation, 



3^8 

filtration nnd I'^ckage on the Genesee vaFIey canal, is 
estimated at lOG cubic feet per nninute per mile: 66 of 
this is lost by evaporation and filtration, and 40 by 
leaLige at the mechanical structures. Hence, for 10 
miles, the loss would be 1. OGO cubic feet per minute, 
which must be supplied. This estimate does not take 
into the account any other loss of water than such as 
is found to exist under favourable circumstances. 

It seems to have been a question with some of the 
engineers who first made a survey of the premises, 
whether this branch canal should stop at McWhorter's 
mill, one mile from the village, or pro« eed as far as 
Faulkner's dam If it terminated at the dam, it was 
reported by ihe engineer, it would divert the water 
from the paper factory and diminish the quantity at 
McWhorter's grist mill, and the n.ills owned by John 
Wood & Co. Terminating at the dam, the ascent 
was reported at 126 feet and fifteen locks. If it ter- 
minated at McWhorter's, it lessened the distance one 
mile, and the expense, $30,079 73, and reduced the 
leakage 46 feet. On the final location there is but 83 
feet to bo overcome by 8 locks. It is estimated that 
the lockage at each end of a summit level is 500 feet 
cubic, per minute. 

By experiments on the Chenango canal it was found 
that an eight feet lift leaked 382 cubic feet per minute, 
and one of eleven feet, 4i7. 

There is some difference in the degrees of cold along 
the Erie canal, when it is observed that the tempera- 
ture of Utica is occasionally 20 degrees below 0; and 
of Albany, from 20 to 40 degrees, and at Rochester 
for the corresponding time, from 20 to 40 warmer, the 
conclusion is irresistable, says Mr. O'Riley, that the 



39 

lakes operate as immense heaters upon the air in win- 
ter. But when wo find by actual experiment that the 
Genesee valley canal is open for the purposes of navi- 
gation, after the Erie canal is closed, it shows that 
other asrcnts combine (their infLueinec with those of the 
lakes to favour the cnn:il from Rochester to this place.. 

On a comparison of the present with the first year 
of its being in operation, a strong argument is obtained 
in favor of an increase of shipments for many years to 
come. The amount of toll is not the most important 
item of profit which is produced to the state, but the 
value which a cheap and easy transportation gives 
to personal and other estates; together with ihc saving 
to consumers, wh't;h becomes capital created, giving 
so much more value to the state i'tsclf Another im- 
portant advantage arising from our internal improve- 
ments is, the bringing together and associating persona 
from distant and extreme places which gives them 
much the same habits of thinking, which strengthens 
our republican institutions. 

It may be interesting to some to see the quantities 
of some of the ileading articles of produce which have 
been shipped from this port ihe present season. 

The following is taken from the Collectors report. 
This accounft is official as was reported by Mr. Tag- 
gart. to the Comptroller. 

Boards and shingles, 5,633,460 feet, valued at 844, 
079— timber, 41,124 feel, valued at $2,4f»7 — shingles, 
0,810,308, valued at $ 13,020— slves, 580,899, valued 
at $5,809— ashes, 819 bbls., valued at $16,380— cheese, 
125.0S0 lbs., valued at $ 0,254— butter and lard, 55, 
875 do., valued at .|S4,470 — wool, 05.073, do., valued 
.at $ 23,702— ilour, 5,103.bbk, valued at $20,412— 



40 

sundries of which paper is a principal article, 323,141 
lbs , valued at $ 64,625. 

These are ihe leading articles, the bala-nce of whicU 
makes up the sun\ of $ 218, 144, as valued here. 'J'his 
amount of produce must have sold in the city of N.Y. 
at more than $ 300.000. 

The excess of toll over last year, $2,155 70 — ma- 
king the tolls of this year $8,3S3 14. 

If the increase of shipments shall continue for six 
years to come as the present ye:ir has exceeded tho 
past, the tolls will then amount to about $20,000 annu- 
ally, even should they remain stationary after that pe- 
riod. Reasoning from analogy it seems clear that 
there must be a large increase. That the country de- 
pending on this canal is only in a state of preparation 
to effect heavier shipments is apparent to all. If the 
transpoitation shall do justice to the preparations which 
are making, the increase of tolls will very soon be (ioub- 
le the present amount. 

The lumber cannot be soon exhausted, the pine for- 
ests are numerous. Making staves for maiket has 
scarcely commenced; the price which they bear in the 
cities IS not in proportion with the low price at which 
they are sold here, which must urge millions to the city 
markets. 

The product of the dairy is becoming a heavy busi- 
ness and the time cannot be far distant, when ten tinies 
the present amount will be lrans|iorted from this place. 
An extensive grazing country is connected with this 
canal, and why it should not produce as much as the 
state of Vermont, on the same territory, is not easily 
perceived. When it equals that <*heese making state 
in quantity, on the same territory it will have wiped 
from it.s soil the reproach of barrenness. 



41 

fvince the roniplelion of this canal we have fetid a good 
wheat market in this place: sotnething has been done 
the present year; a few barrels of flour have been sent 
from h(;re, but this does «0l aflortl any just estimate 
for after years. The town of Sparta and some others 
about US are wheat growing towns, if we say nothing 
of those more distant. 

'i'lhe wool that was shipped this season, was valued 
at only thirty cents per poundVand yet it produced the 
sum of $28.72-0, at forty cents, it would have differed 
that sum aliout $ 10.000. The excess of wool is very 
great over last year: and if it shall become worth for- 
ty cents per pound in the market, it will then be a very 
profitable business to grow wool, and the amount would 
be greatly multiplied. The increase of manufacturing 
must have a good influence on this deparlment of bu- 
siness and il" the tariff should become wtiat the manu- 
facturing interests of the country demand, the growing 
of wool might occupy the foreground amonfj the farm- 
ers of this slate. 

There is much which now finds a market, which 
were it not for the canal would remain almost worth- 
less. The amount of all this is capital created. 

When we trace the numerous canals and railroads 
in this state, the astonishing amount of business trans- 
acted in consequence of these improvements, and the 
steady increase of these business transactions, we feel 
a pride that the '• Empirr St>tk" is ours, nor have 
we much reason to complain of its administration. 

The amount of property brought to this place must 
greatly exceed the atnount shipped. The value of this 
amount of merchandise could not easily be obtained. 
Some principle articles which were taken from the col- 



42 

lectors report seem sufficient for our purpose. Mr. 
Taggart, the collector, has taken much pains to afibrd 
me all the information of which he was possessed on 
these subjects, from which the extracts are made. — 
Property left. — pig iron, 75,095 lbs.; iron ware, 194, 
512 do.; salt, 10,372 bbls.; merchandise, 3,318,057 lbs.; 
gypsum, 228,500 do.; mineral coal, 68,480 do.; furni- 
ture, 46,032 do.; sundries, 107,421 do. 

These items are but a part, but sufficient to show 
something of the consumption of the country. 

^ It can hardly be said that families over trade in«ier- 
chandise during thcipresent times of embarrassment, 
but it is undoubtedly true, that many individuals deny 
themselves many things that would be for their com- 
iQi't rat her than incur;an indebtedness. As our exports 
increase, our imports must also increase. 

The saving to consumers on account of this water 
transportation must amount to a very large sum per 
annum; how much cannot be easily ascertained. 

But the saving on some of these items can be computed 
with sufficient accuracy. There has been 10.372 bar- 
rels of salt brought and accounted for at this office for 
collections, the present year; on which those who deal 
the heaviest in that article, tell us, there is saved on 
each barrel. One Dollar, when compared with the 
former transportation by land. 

j This is a handsome sum saved from one article only.; 
and when we take into account that salt is indispensa- 
ble to every family; that it enters necessarily into al- 
most all our food, the saving is as much to the poor as 
lo the rich, which gives it a higher value. The sum of 
$ 10,372 is as really saved, as if that sum had been , 
distributed among the indabitants of this and surround' t 



43 

ing neighborhoods. Were this a luxury it might be 
dispensed with; or the rich might pay for it as a lux- 
ury, but the poorest family must have salt in about 
the same quantity yearly. 

When double the present quantity is required, the 
savipg will of course be double, and that period cannot 
be very distant. If the time should come that the sa- 
ving in the price of saU alone should amount to all the 
interest on the cost of this canal, it would seem ration- 
al, that an opposer of this inland navigation should oc- 
casionally eat his meat without salting it for holding a 
sentiment so repugnant, and for arraying himself 
against the interests of the poor. 

The saving on iron must also be great; an article 
indispensable to the business of the country. If we 
suppose but |i5,000 saved in this important item, and 
that the increase of the demand shall equal that of 
the other indispensable articles brought to this place, 
a short period only can be necessary to save enough 
on salt and iron alone to pay the interest on the whole 
sum which this canal cost, saying nothing about tolls. 

Taking this view of the subject, we perceive, that 
the country benefited by this branch canal had better 
pay the entire interest on the cost, by a direct tax, 
than to dispense with the canal itself. The profit ari- 
sing in numerous ways from this little branch, small as 
it may be counted, will soon pay the entire expense 
of making it, and give a surplus to the state. This cal- 
culation of profits by what is saved to consumers, and 
the value which is added to real and other estate, gives 
so much more value to the state of New- York. 

It would astonish a Newton, or a La Place, to count 
up the entire value which has been added to this state 



44 

by its internal improvements. If, for instance, the ca* 
nal from Rochester to liiis place is worth one million 
■of doljiirs, what is the Erie and jilJ our other canals and 
railroads worth I If three terms could be found, s'» that 
the answr could be obtained by a simple operation in 
the rule of three, the result would undoubtedly aston- 
ish the world. We can only say in view of the Fup- 
posed result, that the idea of such a sum as must be 
produced, is quite overwhelming. 

We cannot contemplate such wonderful results with- 
out experiencing sublime sensations, nor without dis- 
covering something grand and lofty in hiiman minds 
who project at'd accomplish such high achievements. 

All these advantages attach us more closely to our 
.soil, and make us more patriotic, as we have more to 
love, cherish and defend, by the sum of all ihese mil- 
lions conferred upon us by our internal improvements. 

There is no doubt but internal improvement may be 
and sometimes is carried to the extreme. Some of the 
states are experiencing the legitimate result of that er- 
ror in legislation; yet 'his is no sufficient reason why 
internal improvement should not progress in a sound 
and discreet way. If the amount of business will be 
such that the avails of these works will overcome the 
interest in a reasonable time, or if the benefit of these 
improvements add greatly to the country through 
%vhich they pass, and in which they terminate, the state 
has sufficient inducements to carry forward the first 
and the country with the assis*ani-e of the state, the 
iatter. Those who have, and shall hereafter favor 
this liberal policy will be considered the benefactors 
of community. 

Without intending to enter the political arena, it 



45 

*»iay be asked, what would this state have Ix'cn in com- 
parison, without her 'nternal improvements? To say 
nothing of N. York or Bro')klyn.or Hudson, what would 
Albany, Troy, Utica. llodicstcr and BuH.ilo have been; 
leaving out all stn-b iinportant villages as are soon to 
become cities: what in one word would the country 
have been? — what number of milhons will you subtract 
from the present value of this state, to dt.'gradi; it to 
what it would have been; with a hi'art it is true, but 
its palpitations, how feuWe, and dead, or nearly so at 
its extremities 

If such a disgusting picture is in taste with any read- 
er, ht him in ac(!ordance with his sentiments, entieat 
for the return of an age of semi-barbarism, or the old 
and almost exploded systems which have offered few, 
real benefits to nnen. If any would like to return to 
that state peculiar t(i human society in its first and ru- 
dest state, the rocky mountains are ours; let him pre- 
pare his bow and arrow and climb their dizzv heights. 

There is no intention to speak of this village in a 
way of boastii g, or to undervalue any f»ther place; 
but the impul^je given by the canal was certainly very 
considerable. l*reviously this village did not extend 
west of main streeit any farther than the brow of that 
low hill, which sepaiates the older part of this village 
from that part which has been more recently built on 
the flat toward the can;ii. 

Mr John Haas has furnished me with the numbec 
of houses which have been built in this village within 
the last four years. Mr. Haas, is a prmcipjo builder 
himself; he took time to see each i-f these buddings 
and to know the lime of their being built, and also made 
un estimate of the cost of each. His note, handed to 



46 

■me makes the number about 450, saying nothint* of 
barns and other out houses; he estimates the ivyrage 
cost at $ 550, each. These buildmgs he says, are some 
of them costly buildings, ranging from $5,000. down- 
wards. But many of tht-m are small, and he had 
rather be on the sale side by estimating them below, 
than above thpir cost. The known modesty and sound 
judgment of Mr. I !.aas is apparent in fliis estimate, 
and there is no one of his acquaintance that can be- 
lieve that he has made an extravagant estimate. 

Rnssel H. Winans estimates 450 buildings, average 
S 550, each. 

There are many who believe that these buildings 
cost much more than that average. On his estimation, 
the whole cost is $247,500. 

When we remember that all these buildings h:ivc 
been made in these unpropitioiMs times, it f-ertainly 
speaks favorably of the iitcrease of our village. It 
shows most conclusively some of the influence put 
forth by iidand njvigation. 

If there were but one family in each of these new 
tenements, the population must have received a large 
accession. 

>If this increase of houses shoijU continue for ten 
years to come it would add 4,530, to the present 
number. 

That it will greatly incrense there can he no tloubt, 
and that it will increase as rapidly as'it has within the 
last four years, cannot be doubted. 

One considerable (>otten, or Woolen Factory would 
add a large amount of pei'sons to the present popula- 
tion: a thousand ate soun added where there is much 
done al manulacluring. It is presumed that the tune 



47 

is not very distant! when One Thousand individuals' 
will be added in a year. IMor does it seem unreason- 
able to suppose, that this village will become a city of 
fifteen or twenty thousand inhabitants. The advan- 
tages for manufacturing; the extent of country center- 
ing upon this point, with other favoring circumstances 
argue in favor of such an amount of population. 

This branch canal terminates near Judge Faulkner^s 
Pa,per Factory, on his own premises, and adds much 
to the value of his landsi The Judge has incurred 
considerable expense for the accommodation of the 
public. An estimate of these expenses will be found 
as follows. 

Store house on the canal and adjoining buildings, 
$2,100; coopers shop, $200; store house at the mill, 
$250; flouring mill. $13,500. 

Buildings on premises which he has sold for building 
lots since the location of the canal. $20,000. 

He supposes from a hasty estimate which he had 
made that the cost of buildings on the flat since the 
canal was located to be over $80,000. 

The value of all the buildings and accommodations 
which have been made in consequence of the canal, 
and rise of land and other property is so much capital 
added to the place, of which the $247,500, is but a 
part. 

It is among the benefits conferred by mternal im- 
provement, that it confers a new value upon lands. — 
This canal adds much value to some part of the lands 
owned by senator Faulkner, and upon those owned 
by some others. 

If a less value is added to mine, I desire to be thank- 
ful that I am benefited at all, and most certainly if olh- 



49 

ers receive $ 1,000 benefit and 1 receive l)U( $100, 
my one Jiundred is not llie less valuable because my 
neii^hhor receives one tlio,is:ind. 

Tho following wa.s handed me fir pnbli(;ation, by 
Messrs. (Jonrad Welch, Frederick House and others^ 

'•In order to acconunodale the Inisincss of th(; vil- 
la^ije, the greater part of which is transacted on the 
main St., a distance of half a mile from the canal, 
the citizens of Dansville h ive constructed a hmnch 
canal, at an expense of about $(5,000, commencing 
about 30 rods from Main St., and connecting with the 
main canal immediately above Lock No. 8. ThiscanaJ 
is of the same d niensions as the Genesee Valley canal, 
and will prove of great advantage to the merchants 
and others doing business on i\Jain Stieet " 

There must be a very heavy .nnount of money in-^ 
vested in Basins, Warehouses. &c, in this state, and 
the increase of business |)r<?niises to make many of them 
good investments, hut they are investments susceptible 
of embarrassments of a serious nature. 

There are building lots to be hafi-invefy advantage- 
ous places near the canal and at .shoft dishmces iVom 
it, on favorable terms. Several new streets are filling 
rapinly. 

The author is not inforuTid who are the owers of 
many of these lots, or he would give their nafues — 
There is a respectable business doing in sellnig goods 
near the canal, but Alain street is our chief busmess 
street in mercantile transactions. 

On this 1 am informed then- are 28 retail stores, and 
20 shops.. There are aisn 3 hotels, i Book BnuJery, 
2 printing offices and 15 offices ot [)r()fessionaI gentle- 
men, and the Bank of Dansville and Post Office. 

The change which has taken place regarding the long 
CFcdit systenj, which disposed of such iftrmense quanti* 



49 

ites of goods to the great embarrassment of both iha 
country and city, it is reasonable to suppose, has les- 
sened the amount of sales in uvery place more or less. 
Yet the daily sales in this village are great for so small 
a place. 

Our merchants are selling for ready cash, or it» 
equivalent: the most that is done they ^ay, is a cash 
business: but as some part of it is barter, an accurate 
estimate would be difficult. It seems safer to give the 
amount of goods purchased in the city. On comparing 
the estimates of sound and modest merchants, it cannol 
be less than $ 140 000 annually. 

Adding such piofits as merchants are supposed to 
make to this sum, and the daily sales will be higher 
than almost any one would nt first believe. 

It is astonishing, in these times to see thii street lit- 
erally blocked up with carriages, or sKighs, and the 
principal stores crowded most uncomfortably with wait- 
ing customers, who cannot yet be served. If the num- 
ber of persons who come and go in a single day, wan 
counted, the number would probably amount to more 
than any one is prepared to say: on some individual 
days, those who are here on business at these stores, 
throng the side walk, as if some public festival was being 
celebrated. The distance which some of them come to 
buy the necessaries which their families need, speaks 
well for the price of goods in our place. When you 
see persons here from Pennsylvania purchasing dry 
goods and groceries, and they tell you, they savb 
THIRTY PER CENT by the joumcy, it is not presuming 
to much if our merchants claim something for selling 
goods cheap. It is confidently believed that goods are 

selling in this village, ai low, as they can be obtaine(| 

5 



^0 

on Chatham Street, in the city of New-York, or any 
whore else in these states. 

The business transactions in lumber on the canal side 
pf the viliiige. especially, are heavy for such a place 
as this: the teams and number of people who are com- 
ing and, returning, show the activity of business and the 
importance of the canul. Our hard-ware merchants 
are not out done by those who sell dry goods, but stoves 
and all other goods in their line arc selling so low, that 
when compared with lormer prices, seem sufficient to 
convince any one, that the long credit system should 
be forever exploded. Paints and drugs, together with 
whatever is demanded are alike on the common level 
of prices, which affords a valuable comment on the 
ready pay system. 

It was a wise t>ayingof agreat man, '=buy only what 
'you need, and pay for what you buy." 

Some years since, said the Hon. Henry Clay, Mrs. 
Clay and myself agreed to never be indebted for any 
thing which we should buy, and for a term of years, 
he declared to the senate that they had not. 

The founders in this village have done a respectable 
business. Mr. Commins has at his establishment, ac- 
commodated the public with steam engines for saw mills 
and such other steam aparatus. as has been demanded 
to a considerable amount. The mechanical business 
must amount to a large' sum annually, but it would be 
very difficult to m:ike an estimate. 

The mechanics do not lose when compared with those 
in other neighboring places; some of them have accu- 
mulated very valuable amounts of property, and most 
of them, it is believed, are doing well. 

In 1824, A. Bradley & Sons commenced manufac- 



51 

turing paper on ihcirown premises which at p»-escnt 
is an important establishment. '1 hey ha^e on their 
premises 18 dwelling houses, 4 shops, 2 pnper mills 
and a book binderv. Some of these are very good 
ones, built at a cost of $ 1.000, to $2,500, the'oihers 
of a lower estimate. 

Their mills are excellent, their machinery of the first 
class, and the entire arrangement business hive. The 
amoimt of business ^t these two mills is estimated at 
$ 100.01)0 yearty. The cost of stock $ 3.^3,000 and iho 
cost of labor $20,000 annually. TIkmv is a large pe^ 
centage of waste on rags, which must lessen the profits; 
it must however be a good business undei' the discreet 
management joined with the industrious habits of th(5 
present owners. The paper factory of Judge Faulkner 
is the 'ijdest in the place. This mill hag accomplished 
much business, and is doing from nine to ten thousand 
reams [)er annum, which is something less than is ac- 
complished by one of the Messrs. Bradley's; but must 
be doing $:33j 00 yearly, the stock must cost$ I !,Gr>6^ 
and the labor (J.OGfJ dollar.s. Mr. Portei's is about tho 
same as .ludgc Faulkner's, its business 8 33.000. cost of 
stoi-k, S I l.tGG, cost (it lahor, fjj G.GiJG. Tn place ull this in 
a clearer liiiht, we set A. Bradley & Sons paper I'us- 

ine?s anniiallv. nt $100.00() 

.TikIo;*' Fanlkiier's at 33.333 

Mr.""Porl(M-'s at .... 33.333 

Mr. [jradner's wliich will soon goinlo operation at 33,333 

Making the entire paper business, annually. $200, OUQ, 

Cost of Stock, annuiilly, .... 70,0(){> 

Cost of labor annually 40,000 

$110,000 
The nainber of persons employed, allowing one 

person to each $1,000 - - - . - 200 

Hnre is $1 10,000 

distributed among the poor and middling classes in this sec- 
tion of country. 



52 

Thi.-< is a feiifure in the paper making business which 
•hould be remt'mbert^d by all. A business which receives 
fill its stock from these classes of people, and theti eniploys 
?00. or more of these 3an>e classes of persons tn nF>annfarmre 
this stock into pape^r. The $ 7>0,00() annually is the same 
as a gratuity, scattered over a wide region fur the benefit of 
the poor. If a government should create a bnsines of S 200 
€00 annually, and to commence their work of benevolcnC'e, 
should give $ 70 000 to the poor and middling classes an- 
rually, who would not aditiirf such a government. But the 
government is only required to proterlihis business against 
a competition which exists to embarrass our manufacturers 
by refusing the operatives sufiiciet)t wages to keep them 
from starving. 

We cannot name any one branch of business which is so 
decidedly merciful as the manufacturing of paper. Enter 
these mills and notice how neat and comfoitable they appear:^ 
how cheerful and cleanly the laborers: how still and mod- 
est the several departments of labor progress. 

Here you are not disgusted with a squalled wretchedness 
uhich is insep.irable from an E 'glish Factory under their 
jireseiit abominable system, a Syatein which cries to heaven 
for vengeance. 

Here are no spay feet: no distorted, ruined creatures: no 
children melted at the wor^ted mills and thrown to the quick 
consumption by the hundred, da ly. How diflereni is this 
business from the manufacturing of ardent spirits, which da- 
ting a scarcity lakes the bread from the hungry poor and 
converts it into that which destroys and damnscotnnnjniiy 
by the thousand. 

The honest, industrious manufacturer of paper deserves 
4o prosper, and it does seem thu the business must be pleas- 
fng to Him, who regardeth the cry of the poor. 

$200,000 in some places sustains a whole neiohborhood, 
Mechanics, Physician and Clergyman; indeed, there are 



53 

many places which have much less cnpital. If this busi- 
ness should cease, the loss to the country would amount to 
the sum of the stock u'sed in making paper in all these states, 
and many thousand would be destitute of the means to sup* 
port themselves and families, the business which our own 
manufacturers of paper are d';ing so generously would be 
accomplished by fori-ign countries, by our bitter opponents, 
and these states sustain the loss of some millions every year. 
It seems impossible to take any view of this impoitant 
branch of industry without seeing the necessity of that pro- 
tection which shall enable our ovvn manufacturers to keep 
the ascendancy in our markets. An opposite policy is 
ruinous, and so far as it has been pursued has ministered to 
the prostration of business and a general poverty, of which 
no one administration can have reason to be proud. 

Our inland situation has excused us from the flouring 
business, yet something has been doing at the mills owned 
by Opp and McCartneys, and during the last year Judge 
Faulkner's new flouring mill has done a respectable business. 
Besides these, the grist mills of Mc Whorter and Portt- r are 
doing much. The following is from the report of the En- 
gineer in 1833 who made a survey of a canal route to this 
place, as reported to the Legislature in 1835. " The paper 
mills employ about 84 persons, manufacturing about $80, 
000 worth of paper annually. The Clover mill hes pre- 
pared for market 1,500 bushels of clover seed in one season. 
South of the village the land abounds with pine limber of a 
quality not inferior to any in this section of country; 
and within the circle of a few miles are 55 sawmills making 
large quantities of lumber. The soil in the vicinity of the 
Tillage is alluvial flats, and superior bottom lands. The 
principal part of the valley as well as the uplands is fine qual- 
ity wheat lands. Sparta in which the village is located, ia 
the largest town in the county, &c." 

Since the above date the lumbering business has increase- 



ed greatly : steam mills have become numerous, and very 
heavy qianliiies of lumber are being prepared. 

The advantages and facilities of tliis place for manufactur- 
ing are such that there seems no other way to account for 
its neglected water power, but to pass it to our former insu- 
lated situation. 

There are places where there is more water power, but 
wliere else do so many advantages centre: where else are 
streams of the same quantity of Vv'ater and having as much 
descent, on the common level of the hinds on each side of 
them: where else car. as many sites for factories be found 
where so little need be expended in obtaining their founda- 
tions: where else is there the. same cubic feel of water ptjr 
minute and yet subject to no injurious ireshets : where else 
can all the materials hr buildings be obtained in the i;"nmedi- 
ate neighborhood and at so low a cost? Where else does 
nature and the advantages of the place, together with the 
wants of the surrounding country mahe the same demands 
with equal promise of profit. On an examination of the wa- 
ter power any one must perceive the inducement to manu- 
facturers' to be great. We take only the w^ater vviihin the 
range of the village. The Canaseraga Creek contains 3, 
871 cubic feet per minute : ihe iVIill Creek 1,980 ; Little Mill 
Creek 990, and .Stoney brook 1,000 cubic feet per minute. 

We will use but two sites on the Canaseraga. On Mill 
Creek only ten. On liale mill creek we will use but six. 
Throwing away Stoney brook and half our other water pow- 
er. — taking the paper mills of A. Bradley & Sons as speci- 
mens of business, those on that stream will do the same 
amount ot business. 

2Paper mills annually, - - - $100,000 

10 Factories on same stream, - - - 500,000 

2 on the Canaseraga, 3,271 cubic feet per 
minute 165.000 

6 Tiiltle mill Creek 990 cubic feet per minute 150,000 

Factory and Mills already in operation - 80,000 

$995,000 
Judge Faullcnei's paper mill , - ♦ 33,333 
Mr Porter's do. - - - - 33.333 

Mr. Bradner's do. .... 33,333 

$1.094,99d 



55 

Making more than one million of business annually. 

We have on this calculation, in business annually, the 
sum of $1,094,999. Cost of stock for paper, annually $70, 
000. Cost of labor, making- paper, annnally, $40,000. — 
Cost of stock for the other factories allowing it to be fifty per 
.cent on the entire product, about $450,000. Cost of labor, 
estimated asat paper mills $220,000! 

There is no account made of eighty thousand dollars irj 
the cost of its material. 

We subtract the amount of business to $1,000,000 and, 
allow twelve years to reach that sum, which does not seem 
to be an extravagant calculation. 

When this estimate is realized, this place will contain 
fifteen or twenty thousand inhabitaiits, and rank among iho 
third class cities ofthis state. 

It is confidently believed that the surrounding country 
will urge this place onward until it becomes a city of at least 
that amount of population. 

There could be one, or two hundred thousand dollars 
spared bycapitalists in this village, for manufacturing pur- 
poses, with out any embarrassment to the present business, 
but we have not got the men who have been educated to the 
business ofmanufacturing. To make the business safe and 
profitable.the owners should understand every department of 
it and manage it themselves. 

For the want, or in the absence of these establishments on 
an extensive scale we are losing the interest on a large 
amount of natural capital. 

Suppose this capital to be $100,000, the simple interest 
would be $7,000 annually. But subject our water power to 
certain well known laws and the profits are commonly much 
higher; sometimes 25, or 30, which would yield 25,000 or 
30,000 annually. 

That capitalist who hoards up $25,000 and keeps it idle, 
wrongs the public out of the business which it might do, and 



5G 

liimself out of the interest which is $1,750 a yenr. Water 
power is capital, as really as the soil ofour lands. Our lands 
ere useless except they are used, and mines of the preriaus 
metals are valueless unless they are opened and the ore tes- 
ted by well known rules. Were it known that considerable 
mines of, even Iron, or Lead, existed in this neighborhood, 
^oes any man believe that miners could not be obtained, to 
work them. But mines may deceive the most experienced 
end sagacious miners, while our waters roll on, undiminish- 
ed and forever. 

Here are no gulfs, or precipices to descend, where thou- 
cands must be expended in obtaining a precarious founda- 
tion for a factory building, which will probably be removed 
or injured by the approaching fieshel. Mere our streams 
ere not subject to any injurious freshens. All these calcula- 
tions, and supposition? will be more than realized when the 
fictory bell shall call the appropriate number of men women 
end children to step lightly to the buzz of a million of 
spindles. 

The location of this village is such, that strong induce- 
ments are offered to capitalists and to such as possess but 
moderate means: being at the head of navigation for an ex- 
tensive and industrious region of country. Here mu?t be 
the central business point, and here the purchases for the 
wants of business and fa nu lies will be made. If in some 
•ectioas there is not a surplus of wheat for the market, there 
is and will be that which is quite as necessary and profitable. 

As an illustration of the foregoing, we publish the annual 
exhibit of the statistics of manufacturing at Lowell, from the 
New-York Tribune. 

•' Wk obtained last week at the e&at the annual exhibit cf the con- 
tfiiion of the manufaf-tories at Lowell, embodying facts ^*hich we thiak 
will interest our readers. 

There are eleren regular manufacturing companies in Loivell, in- 
eluding the 'locks and canaU,' or water privileee company, which 
9M iacorporated in 1792, but did not commence operations unitl 1622 



57 

which n>ay be regarded as the year of the foundation of Lowell. Be» 
fore thai time, it was a rugs;ed, rocky, barren spot, inhabited by two 
or three families of buatnien and tisherman, and not worth ten dollars 
per acre, inclndine every thing upon it. The Merrimac comi^any 
commenced business the next year, and no other until the Taiilf of 
1824 was passed. In 1825, the Hamilton company siarted; in 1828^ 
the Api)leton and Lowell; in 183.), the Middlesex; in 18:52. ihe Suifolk 
and Tremont: in 18^.3, thi- Lawrence; in i8)!6, ihe Booit; and in 1810 
the Massachusftl.s, b<-inir ih»- last. These eleven compani'-s employ 
an aggregate rapiial of i$l(>, 7()i),000, ein;ili-ying 6.295 fi-tnak's and 2, 
345 niiiles. JJesnif these, iherp are in Low-'ll e.xtfnsivt* Powder mills, 
a Flannel' Mill, a Blanket Mill. Bolting Mill, Foundry. Paper mdl, 
Bleachcry. ( ord arid Whip lactory. Plaining maihitie, Reed machine, 
Grist rt,.d Saw nulls, employing a capital of .-IS'^OjOOO and 51)0 v ork- 
men. making the whole maiiufacturinir capital of Lowell $1 1,200, 000, 
employing over 9,000, men and women. 

The ten principal Manufactories already designated have .311 mills, 
'beside print works, run (5,194 Looms and 2r'l,()7.) Spitidl^s proiui-ing 
J. 425.8.) ) yards cf cloih per week, or74,14l,(i('0 within the yt-ar 1843. 
The Cotton fabricated by them durin<r the year was 22,88 ). 00:) Iba. 
(A pound of cotton will avp'Rire 3 I-.5 yards of Cloth: 100 punnds of 
CorioM w'll iiiak" 891lis otCloih.) A ho n will averatre on .\o 14 
yarn 44 varJsol C'oth per day, on No. 30, 30 yarJs. Ofprin"*,! Chxhs, 
273,000 yards per w^ek. arc made by the Merrimac and Mariiilron 
Companies The Middlesex makes 9, COi' yards of CiissiiinTe,-^, 1.8)0 
of BroH hdoihs pr-r week, using 1.000,000 pounds of Wool and 3.ll;)X 
OOOibs. of Trasf^ls per annum The Lowell makes 2,500yardso'" Car- 
pets, and i5') of Rn<;s pei week, beside 85,00!1 of Cottons Fi-mii'^la 
are ma leal th- llam Itoii, Sheetings and Shirting at nearly ail, with 
Drillings. Printing Cloths, t^-c at several. 

The average wages pai I to the Females, young and old, experienc- 
ed and inexperienced, is $1,75 per week t'eyond the cost of board; to 
Males, $4,20 per week, or about ifil8 per month beyond the roar of 
their board. The payments are all made in cash, amounting to $150, 
000 per tnonlh. We chal.eiige the wide world to produce, out of the 
Mannfariuring districts of our own country, a region where Femaio 
Labor is so bou;>ieon-ly employed ar.d is pai 1 on an average of ^57, 53 
pe."- month beyond th° cost of board. And we challenge tl;i.< or any 
country to produce a section in which women who work for their liv- 
ing a:-e more intellig*nl, bet.ereducated, more truly virtuous, religious 
and independani than tho;<e employed in the Lowell Minufactoriea. 
There have been most sham^'ful slanders cir(!ulated with regard to 
them which ought to be put down In the infancy of these establish- 
ments, some females of bad character obtained employment there, thro' 
deception; but these were speedily detected and expelled: and now ij 
one of b--d character is dt.Acovered there, she is required to leavedirec t- 
ly, as the others will not endure the association of vice. IVo where 
is there a more correct and vigorous moral sentiment than among these 
industrious and indepeiidant women. 

As to the alleced hartJship of Factory labor, we have no doubt that 
its conditions might be improved. We believe the average honrsof 
labor are 12j| per day, which is too much for an employment which ia 



58 

pursued the year rounJ. It does not allow time enough for reading, 
study, attending lectures, and oiher means of moiiil and intellectual 
improvement. But, on the other hand, it must be considered ihat 
the iabo-r is very light; that many pursue il for hours together wiih a»i 
open book before them, reading half ihe time; and that«/Z greatly pre- 
fer it to any. other field oi Industry. You can hardly induce an Amer- 
ican girl at the Efistward to do housework except for her own family 
or for the sick; the large majority would prefer working in a factory 
for $1,51; per week, to doing housesvork for $2. And the establish- 
ment of Manufactories has, to our certain knowledge, morelhan doub- 
led thaavcragi recDmpznsf, accord dil to Fdnuds labor throiiffiioutihc Man- 
vfarJuring region, while greatly reducing the price ot almost every 
thing a woman buys. Beside this, the treatment of Females who do 
Iiousi'work has grr'aily improved tince the factories were started. — 
No woman of sense or spirit will now submit to thi^ humiliations which 
were common here twenty years ago, (and which are cornmon here 
now,) because she knows where slie may at any time go to avoid them. 

It is common enough for our Free Traders to talk flippantly of our 
Females engaged in factories as if they were of like character and con- 
dition with those of England. But this is very unlike the truth The 
Anifriciin faciory girl is generally the daughter of a farmer, has had 
a cominoi) school education at the district school, and has irone into 
the factory for a few seasons to acquire a little something fur a start 
in life She spends .some weeks or months of every year under her 
father's rool, and generally marries and settles in its vi.-iniiy. Many 
attend Lectures and eveningsclionls after the day's work is over, and 
cf the six thousand more than half regularly occupy and pay for seals 
in the niiiierous Churches of Jjowell. Nowhere is the Sabbath better 
ob!^crved, or the propoiiiiin of halntual chnich goers greater than in 
that thriving ciiy; hardly any where is Temperance more general or 
are violations oi law less frequent. Si.\ out oi' ten of the Femalesand 
fi'll one half of the Males enjoy bdUr health in the Mills tharj they 
did before coming there. 

Six of these Mills are warmed by steam orily two by hot air, and 
three iiy steam and hot air together. The annual corisumption of 
Wood therein is 0,29:') cords: of Anthracite Coal, J 2,53.') tons, ; of Oil, 
67,849 gallons. (5;)0,000 bushels of Charcoa' were used in 18-13, and 
4,0i)l) barrels of Flour for Starch alone. Th'» Locks and Canals Com- 
pany use 1,225 tons of Iron per aniiuni; will put up and finish a Fac- 
tory of 5.f-'l)[) spindles complete in four months, and entploys, when 
building, 1,001) to 1,201) workmen. 

Such are some of the statistics of the chief Manufacturing town in 
America. As a specimen of resuhited, systemized, well directed In- 
dustry, it is worthy of study. Though doubt. rss far enough from per- 
fection, whether as to efliciency or disiribution of proeeds, we ask 
every friend of the Flunian R;ice tojudge whether it is wise or humane 
to favor a policy which would diminish such towns as Lowell, and en- 
large such as Manchester, Preston and Glasgow. This is a practical 
quHstion. 

And, while the laborers of England have, under all changes of poli- 
cy, br-en yearly sinlcinginto deeper and deeper abjpctness and despair, 
owing to causes far beyond the reach of any policy we may j)ursue, 



59 

we rejoice in being able to slate that the working Men and Women of 
Lowell have very large deposits in the Savings Bank of that place, 
and that they arc becoming Large, owners of Stock in the Corporations 
for which they icork — in one already to the extent of $IOO,0(JI), in 
another to the amount of $60,000, &e., &c. Here is ihe germ of the 
true and genial Reform which we h(>pe to see become universal, and 
which, when it shall have resulted in making the Workmen large and 
general owners of Stock in the establishments in which they are em- 
ployed, sharing fairly in their profits, will put an effectual stop to the 
demagogue resort of exciting laborers against employers, to the ruin 
and injury of both. 

The towns around us need no eulogium; their inhab- 
itants pay their debts. Sparta, Groveland. Springvva- 
ter, Cohocton, Howard, D;insville, Hornclsville, Al- 
mond, Burns, Ossian, with others, are increasing in 
soundness and in wealth; so also are those more distant^ 

The look of the country in all directions from this 
village, is somewhat mountainous; but such is the pe« 
culiarity of the opening into this valley, that a gradual 
decent favours all the approaches to this village, except 
that from the north. Such is its position in a commer- 
cial and manufacturing point of view, that competition 
within the range of its customers need not be antici- 
pated. There are some places where both nature and 
Providence urge a compliance with their united de- 
signs: this appears to be one of these places, and their 
intentions must be accomplished. 

There are in this village, one I^utheran Church, one 
German Reformed, two Presbyterian, the second of 
which has recently built them an excellent Meeting 
house; a very large Methodist Society, one of Episco- 
palians, and a Roman Catholic meeting some part of ihe 
time. There are a sufficient number of individual 
Baptists lo form a church, which is likely to take place 
soon. It n\ay be said of the Clergymen who have 
charge of those religious bodies, that they lose nothing 



CO 

tvhen compared with those of our iieighborii.g villages. 

Altho' the author is opposed to the practice v\h;ch 
has sometimes obtained, of seeming to exhaust the pro- 
fessed piety of the place by excessive handling, and 
stutling the book so full of the lemarkable proceedings 
of the religious societies, as to ensure the book a mar- 
ket, even, in the absence of all merit yet, there were 
some things in the life of the late Mr. Huf)bard, former- 
Pastor of the first Presbyterian Church in this village 
which deserves some notice. I say Mr. Hubbard, rath- 
er than ' the Reverend Mr. Hubbard," not from any 
disrespect, but from conscientious scruples. 

The title, "Reverend," is never applied to any crea- 
ture in the Scriptures; but is applied to God alone, as 
" Reverend and holy is his name " Should the word 
Holy, be substituted for that of Reverend, and we 
should read in some publication, of the Holy Mr. 

the Holy Dr. ,&c., any one would at 

once perceive that the "writer intended to convey a 
meaning directly opposite the word itseK — that he in- 
tended to convey the idea of the want of holiness, or pro- 
priety of character. Hence the extreme impropriety 
of giving flattering titles which the inspired word dis- 
allows. 

The following brief sketch is from the pen of Major 
Van Campen who knew Mr. Hubbard long and inti- 
mately. 

*' Robert Hubbard was persevering in his efforts 
to increase in piety, and knowledge of the word of God: 
he deserves to be remembered and imitated. In his 
intercourse with his feUow creatures he was always 
affable and obliging; noted for a deportment the resultof 
enlarged and active benevolence. Exceedingly social 
in his feelings: polite and graceful in his manners.-— 



GI 

He consciously avoided an intimacy with those whose 
sociiiy ncUher promised, nor aflbrded opportunities of 
usi'Culi ess. \\\\h ihe saints, the excellent ones of the 
oartli. was his delight. 'J'he more spiritual any one 
appeared to be the more did he seek and enjoy com- 
munion wiili ihom. . . It mattered not with him what 
wii's the C(Miditi(>n or color, every one who showed the 
he rt of" :r true diciple he recognized, as a brother, or 

SlSt.,;!'. . -! • 

•• lie rejoiced to be an instrument to minister to ihe 
edification and ctmsolation of all those who loved the 
Lord Jesus (vhrist in sincerity. To this end ho visited 
tile sicU and ihe afflicted; conversed, wrote letters, 
hcM meetings, vfec, He was fdthful in exhort;ition and 
pr.irur,jnTd all the means he could use to build up the 
kiiig(ioni of C/lirist in the hearts of the saints. While 
he thus labored to piomote a growth in grace in the 
(,'hurcli, ihe bui'den of his prayer and labors wen; for 
the (:on\ersion of souls: he had consecrated himself to 
the si rvK-e ot" the I^oid,' ihe'gldry of his name, and the 
advaaeement of his cause. " ' ' , 

•• \ot (ii)ly in his intercourse and correspondence 
with Ins ffllow men ihd he endeavor to sirengihen the 
iiiti.'i-esis of pitily in those under his'infiuenee, but by 
all'nieans possible did he labor to gain some from the 
ranks ol' tiie eneniy. 

••Actuated by this zeal for the divine glory and com- 
passion lor pf.'r.slnng souls he sought, aiul seized every 
opportunity to beseech men in ('hiisl's stead to be rec- 
oiicilec! lo God. Thus he continued in the s(;rviceof 
the Lord until his feeble body lailed and he went peace- 
fully to his rest." 

This sketch is undoubtedly very modest, much 
might be said of that excellent man, who Tor piety and 
benevol(;n'-,e had few equa's. 

It would seem nncourteous to pass the Legal. and 
Medical IVofessions in silence when so much is'deserv-* 
ediy due the highly qualified and useful Gentlemen 
.who fill them. 

6 



If'we assign to the first an intimate acquaintancief 
with ihe ph losophy of truth and justice in coniujction 
willi the safety of reputation and property toii(!ther 
with the remedy which the sufferer may obtain where 
liis rigiits are invaded: if we assign to the other, that 
deep and thorough knowledge which can only be ob- 
tained by an untireiny studiousness of the organic, and 
mental ( onstitution of man, which qualifies to make ihc 
nice distinction, between a healthy and unhealthy ac- 
tion, wiih the remedies for restoring one or more of 
these organs, or facid.ies to their legitimate cours •. we 
only assign them the deep research and morality of 
purpose which places them where they belong, on the 
great circle of the sciences. 

If any gentljman of theso professions fails of this lofty 
standard, it is owing lothatawlul depravity which has 
corrupted all hearts^ and not to any impurities in the 
fountains from which all truth flows out in transparent 
streams. 

Taking this viciw of those professions, we can hut 
yield them the seats which the guardians of our rights 
and of our health should o<;cupy. 

The inhabitants of this villag; have heretofore been 
reniiss in sustaining thai higher class ol schof)ls which 
were imperiously demanded The academ}' has some- 
times received a degree of patronage. I'Ut the subject 
has nil received all the attention w^'lich it cK;serv- 
ed. The higher branches of English education, togeth- 
er with a thorough preparation to enter our ('<tllegcs 
should at all times be |)rovid.cl for in a ph'ce like this. 
Tnese advantages may now be obtained in our village 
very cheaply. 

The Academy promises much under the tuition and 
supervision of Mr. Hicks. We have also v>n excellent 
school for young ladies, taught by the highly qualified 
and accomplished Missf^s Talcot and Post, from New- 
York: none need go abroad for an education now, ex- 
cept such as enter our colL-ges; 



63 

We are encouraged to believe that the important 
suhjcMi is appreciated with incroasintr interest. 

This statt; is ( nly (luldtme in h( r adniiraib e common 
school system, by seme f>arls <>f Germany. 

The Kingdom of Prussia has surnmnded herself 
with a bright Halo ofglorN, by her liberal system of 
conunoii education. In almost anypart of Germany ed- 
ucation is fnore easily uWained than clse-vvhere. 

The justly celebrated Thulock, was initiated into 
the temple of science by this national charity. 

It is singular, that governments so very absolute, 
shoL.ll be so very jiatcmal to the humble poor, while 
those whose policy seems much more l.beral should s6 
criminally neglect ihi^ir jirasantry. ' 

In these U. States, statesmen have ceased to amuse 
the [tubjic with speculations re^'arding the human mind, 
hut are laboring to provide the means lor its develop- 
ment. I'llenientary books have l)ecome abund mt, and 
many of them are truly excellent. Our language is 
being devc-loped and its stiength tested by the great 
n\imi)er of urammars and DifUionaries of recent date. 
Ti.ere have been more than 350 in our language, more 
than half of these arc American. Whether this is com- 
j)limentary, orwhether this great number of American 
graminars is not the result of over-doing, so peculiar 
to us Yankees is scarcely questionable. * 

There is a spirit in us. Jlmcr'xans, which seems pe- 
culiar; if a new path is opened, or some ancient avenuo 
enlarged, such numbers press into it, as to embarrass 
each otiier. This has been the fact, regarding our 
Spelling books ;md Grammars especially. 

It is no longer a question whether the English Lan- 
guage is spoken more correctly here than in England, 
nor whether our pronouncing Dictionaries are inferior 
to theirs. There is something sublime in our antici- 
pations of the high destiny of our Language, and of 
the Anglo lSax^)n ra< e of men. 

There is ve y much due to Dr. Johnson, that Colos- 
sus of LUei-atura, for arran^ic^ and setLliiiig noany inl- 



«4 

^ortnnt rules for the Insiing benefit of our Mother 
tongue. It needed jusier rules of interpretation and 
tdiscipline. it was ambiguous to an alarming degree. 
It was rieh but not sufficiently restrained. Much of 
its ambiguity must forever remaitr. but the diricrent 
«pelling of the same word-has accrmphsihod something. 
But as a dissertation on ihis subject is not ciliod for, 
the subject is dismissed with many thanks to Mr. Web- 
ster and other accomplished American scholars who 
have contributed much to the language dear to us ail. 

Whether minerals abound in our hills has not been 
^ascertained; but Alum is believed to exist in large 
quantities near Mr. Porter's mills. Springs of water 
.are strongly impregnated with it, and the ore is said 
to possess a very high per cent of pure ahim. It is 
probable that it may become a profitable business — 
There are indications of minerals in our hills, and they 
probably «^xist, perhaps to a large extent, Init we are 
yet to young for the discovery. Such mines as may 
hereafter employ many workmen, secrete their gliiter- 
ing ore with much propriety, as other departments of 
l)usiness are not yet filled up. In some new places, 
Galena, for instance, the Lead seems neccssa'v, to 
.balance the disadvantages of the ])lace; but heie it is 
Otherwise. Nor is it very desirabh; that rich mines 
of silver or Gold, should be frequently discovered. — 
,The Spanish nation and soil are both enduring a heavy 
curse, whr.h their South American mines' have minis- 
.tered to them. 

The Coal mines of England and of Pennsylvania are 
greater blessings than if they were Gold, or Silver, so 

.far as national prosperity and morals : are concerned. 
It was the abundance of these metals, easily obtained, 
which produced the idleness and efl^emijiacy of Spain, 
and corrupted the government and her people. It was 
this which despoiled her of her Chivalry, and which 

•cast away the once glittering Lance of Arragon and 

iCastile. 



65 

The public square in this village has been greatly 
encroached upon and neglected. It is hoped it will 
be soon redeemed, (enced and laid out into walk-s and 
planted with trees and shrubbery; by what name it 
should be called is for our village to decide. Perhaps, 
♦' Rochester Squire/' or possibly, " Primitive Square," 
in honor of the first settlers who gave the ground. 

Judge Faulkner will lay off'a square near his basin, 
which will be suitably fenced, &c. which we will cull, 
*' Faulkner's Square." 

The Messrs. Bradleys will lay off one in their sec- 
tion of the village, as soon as it shall be necessary, 
which we will call " Bradley's Square." 

As the village increases , there will probably be a 
public square near the north part of Main St, which 
will be called by the name of the donor. 

Such squares are necessary to densly populated pla- 
ces, and add much to their beauty, health and conve- 
nience. It was this which influenced that great states- 
man, Wm. Penn, to so bequeath the public Squares to 
the corporation of Philadelphia, that if ihey were en- 
croached uf)on, they should revert to his heirs. These 
squares add much to that elegant city; they are capa- 
cious and nnmerous, and so located as to favor every 
part of the city. 

When all these squares shall be called for, and rich- 
ly fenced and decorated, it will be a luxury to ramble 
along their gravel walks with some, dear friend, inha- 
ling a thousand sweets from the opening flowers, and 
admiring the rapid change of an inconsiderable village, 
to a smiling and delightful city. 

The natural curiosities of this place are not numerous, 
nor very imposing^. Yet nature has made some records of 
her proceedings around us. The hills of sand on the south 
of ttie village are worth visiting. One of these stands out 
from the rest as if desirous of being inspected and admired. 
This Pyramid ascends on all sides at an eqijal angle to its 
lop. There is that circular exactness aroimd its basie, 
and in its entire ascent, that it seems to have been adjusted 

6* 



C6 

by higher rules than the Lead and Line alone are capable 
of enforcing. One would suppose thai some accomplished 
Kn_ineer had superintended the building to test the perfec- 
tion of his mathematical instruments and his ov^'n skill. 

On this sandy memorial of the ancient Flood, a flag should 
continually wave.. 'J'his monument which wa* produced 
by the whirling waters under the guidance of the divine Ar- 
chitect, has endured the baulingof the storms, for more than^ 
4,000 years: during which period, the snows have marked 
its number of winters, while a mantle of green has number- 
ed its springs. We cannot contemplate it, but as an ancient 
bistoric relic which speaks of the distant past, and which 
secretes within itself the Archives of 4,000 years. It looked 
abroad upon this valley before the red man's hasty step had 
brushed the dew. or tlie twanging bow string had launched 
an arrow for the Bison or the Deer. 

As early, as 1797, the few inhabitants of this place were 
alarmed by a heavy, unusual sound, and treinbling of the 
ground. The sound increased and became excedingly fear- 
ful, when looking in the direction of the apparent thundering 
a volume of water larger than a barrel issued from the side 
of the mountain east of the village. The force and velocity 
of this stream was such, that you would suppose sonae 
wonderful reservoir of water had been tapped sufficient- 
ly low to give it the advantage of all its pressure. Large 
trees weie torn out by the roots and sent down the 
mountain as if discharged from some mighty engine. 
Alter some time the volume of the stream lessened, 
and consequently its velocity. From that time, a 
beautiful stream of clear, cold water has issued from 
the place and has served lo suply a tannery many years. 

This breaking forth of water from the hill the first 
settlers denominated the "Out break." 

It was ascribed to various causes; some may yet re- 
main doubllul regarding it. Mr. Hatrimond ascended 
the triountaui, nearly half a mile above the "Out break," 
and found a Lake, or pond wliich appeared to have 
drawn off a considerable part of its water. He sup- 
posed that a channel was forced through from this pond 
& that the great pressure of the water was the occasion 



of the "Outbreak." This opinion seems arationaf one, 
and in afjreenient with the laws by which water is 
governed. 

A little distance from the "Out break," there is a 
Cavk in the side of the hill wjiich has been c;dled 
"thk DiiviL's HOLE." vSomo singular things have been 
sa'd regarding it which might be worth something to a 
Sir Walter Scott, if they had been n-iatcd on the High- 
lands of Scotland. This cavern, ii is said will only ad- 
mit a man's body at the mouth, but after descendmg 
you come to a room of beautiful appearance, with an 
opening into another, more spacious and elegant, and 
another, &c. It is possible that these rooms are nu- 
merous and extend a great distance into the mountain, 
which if carefully and scientifically searched out might 
add a new wonder to the catalogue of Caves. I'rep- 
arations aj*e being made for a thorough investigation, 
when if it is found that extensive excavations exist, it 
can appear no more wonderful than that the attribute of 
Power, should have been exercised elsewhere, or in 
producing the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. 

There is a little west of us a Spring of superior wa- 
ter which comes out of a rock. or 7 leet at its base, 
and one foot in diameter at the lop, into which you 
can dip a cup, as at the rock sj)ring at Saratoga. 

It affords a generous stream of water. It is difRr-ult 
to describe, but should be visited. It deserves a more 
accurate examination and description. 

Patterson's falls, a little to the north-east of the 
village has become a place of resort; if there were 
suitable accommodations they would be visited much. 

The stream of water is not large, but has not been 
desecrated by art. It is intended to have sufTicient 
accommodations for company, which added to the 
scenery of the place, will make a favorite retreat. 

There is a Medicinal Spring near this village on 
the premises of Judge McNair, of considerable impor- 
tance. Its water has been found of great service in 



68 

curifrg diseases. This water has been analyzed by 
Professor Dewey of Williamstown College and found 
lo contain the following ingredients. 

"1885. 

Dear Sir: 

I have examined to considerable extent 
the mineral water which you sent me. One property 
of it is clear, its fetid odor. This is owing to sulphur- 
etted hydrogen gas. It gives name to this class of 
mineral water, viz, the sulphuretted waters. 

Whether they contain much of other ingredients de- 
pends upon circumstances; some do like those near the 
Congress Spring at Saratoga, and some do not. 

I have tested this water with acetate of Lead, nitrate 
of silver, pure potash, and carbonate of potash, nitrate 
and muriate ofbarytes and pure barytes, oxate of am- 
monia, lime water and ammonia, Prussiate of Potash, 
Fecula and regitable blue. I evaporated a portion of 
it and got the solid s.dt in small quantity of solid earthy 
matter, slightly colored ia spots with a yellowisli- sub- 
stance which is oxide, or Carb. of iron; but the iron is 
in too small quantity to be detected till the water is 
jDvaporated, and then it is found insoluble so that it 
must be a minute quantity of Carbonate of iron dissolv- 
ed by Carbonic acid. 

There is contained in the water, 

1. Sulphuretted hydrogen gas in considerable qnan- 
.tities, probably as much as at the Spring at Avon and 
other places. 

2. Muriate of soda, (common salt) in small quantity. 

3. Sulphate of lime, this makes the common hard 
water, and is in usual quantity here. It is salt posses- 
.sing no medicinal properties. 

4. Carbonate of iron in minute quantity, held in so- 
lution by Carbonic acid in the water. 

5. Carbonic acid. This is shown by lime waterand 
may be nearly as much as the volume of the water. 

It is this which dissolves the Carbonate of iron, — 



6i) 

These ingredients did not render it probable that any 
Iodine is in it. I tested ioi it and saw no indication 
of Its presence. ~ ' 

This water is like that of Aix La Chapcll and Har- 
rowgate. The water of the former has a temperature 
of lOOdeg. or more, the hitter, only that of the coun- 
try 50 deg., or GO deg. perhaps. Of the llarrowgate 
water it is said they are very otfensive to the smeU 
and taste; in small quantities, and as an alternative in 
l-arge quantity purgative, anri useful in scrolulus or cu- 
taneous diseases, destroying worms and removing 
chronic obstructions and diseases of the stotJiach. 

I cannot now turn to any book on this subject. 

6. Carbonate of soda. This is in small quantity, 
but enough to be readily detected, rendering it proba- 
ble there is little pure carbonic acid. When the wa- 
ter is evaporated, this alkali alone effects the blue test. 
' All the ingredients, except the sulfihate of lime make 
this water valuable, and this one does no hurl.*' 

This Spring is situated on rising land of a dry soil 
and easily approached. It is proposed to accommodate 
the public by erecting suitable buildings for boarding 
bathing, &c., the coming season, when it is presumed, 
the water will be found of much service to such as may 
be imiuced to use them. 

The situation of the spring is so elevated that the 
water may be carried a great way in simple conduct- 
ors if necessary, and used for showering at almost 
any elevation. They have proved efii(;acious in nu- 
merous instances, and undoubtedly this spring is one 
among the many tountams of mercy which our benev- 
olent Creator has opened for the benefit of a diseased 
race. 

SVe look upon our medicinal waters as so many ex- 
pression* of the divine favor, and desire to be humbly 
grateful in our acknowledgements of so much undeserv- 
ed compassion. 

There are some other peculiarities which might be 
enumerated, but as they are not prominent in their 



70 

features the subject is dismissed \^ith one remark — 
These Pheiioiniiia whieh nre scattered abroad upoa 
the earth are so many demonstrations ot the existunce 
of the great first cause, and of his unsearchable designs^ 
•as well as his supervision of th'» works of his htmid«. 
We see hini every where in his works, but at Hihese 
fspecial places we are njore especially called uipoii to 
revereirute the Divinity. 

These seem acts, or testimonials, by whose; light we 
.discover more of his eternal jiower and (Jodhead, than 
in contemplating things on an onliniry level. JSonie of 
these peculiarities, or curiosities .ire strong ex|)rcssions 
•of the attribute of iVfercy. regardmg the bodies of men, 
which taken in connection wiih a high and gracious 
cconomv, develo|)t; a lich benevolence in liim. w-f^ose 
we are, anrt whom we s^hoidd reverence and ol»ey. 

11" by the wortl, Scenery, we mean, the appenrancc 
of a pl.ice and what is about it. blending their infinen- 
ces s » as to enforce no ordinary claims U| on persons 
of taste and refinement: if this is uhat we n e:m by the 
•word, this village and vicinity yields to no inland place 
in our knowledge. The imposing gr mdeur o| oiir high 
lands, whose sides during the season of venbirr. appear 
dike an almost mi^asureles contiguity of curtains on lofty 
^langings, to shield us fr.'m tlie C"ming winds. In Au- 
1iurrin*lhey are changed U> a rainbow line, ;is if alJ the 
•dyes of Tyre, Persia and Etrypt had been lavished to 
«dress us out in purple (»( the rjciiest party colour. 

These colors are arranged in the happiest manner, 
ito sotten into loveliness with pleasing effect. When 
the leaves of our forests have fallen, their varie-^ tints 
of the richest coloring, present to the eye. wherever 
the winds have (dus'ered them, the appearance of 
bloomini: parte/Tcs of tlowers, which tempt the admi- 
>rrr to lay liimgeil.f down in the mid>t of such exquisite 
•paintings and iervjovy theem-hantiiMMit untlistur'ned. 

'I'he claiius (Of .our rainbow colore<l foliage, tho' un- 
rivalled in beairty. when connected with an autumnal 
«unsw't, cNceedsali that is pretended to claim adinira- 



71 

tion on the miicii lauded rose colored Ilal'.on sliies. 

What must be the surprise of a person who had hcer» 
bmuglit np among the fo^rs «>f j, .ndon, or the smoke 
of Li crpool; especially. ^\x\x\\x\^\\\\v[\, \\vdi smokehouse 
of the vvMiIil, if set down on our hill side, amidst an 
ocean of flowers and then lo<»king abroad upon our 
western sky of burnis'ied '.old and purple. Add to all 
this, the rich garniture of the entire heavens during an 
Autnnmal sunset whde thin pellucid clouds float over 
him in all the rich coloring ol Ilim who made the Rain- 
bow, and has 0[)ened every flower. 

When he has be<"ome familiar with so much splendid 
beauty and loveliness, ask him for his Knglish Heavens; 
ask him for the Sun, Moon and Stars of London. Liv- 
erpool and Birmingham, swathed in fog and smoke: 
constrained from day to day t*»» put on sackcioth and 
wcai the habiliments of mourning forever. Ask him 
to paint an English November upon the canvass with 
mel uichnly ;ind suicide in the fort'g.'ound. 

Add to this delighilul scenery, our extensive plains?, 
dotted with cattle. ;)iid whitened v\ith sheepMhe cheer- 
ful whistle of our B'armers, as they. " drive meir teams 
afield,'' mingling with a thousand mellow voices and 
the pic'ure, together with the undefinable feelings of 
the fon-igner iK.-cds no addition. ****** 
^\'ec;^n but anticipate the time, when our isles shall 
blush at tlieirown ingratitude and our L'ontinent heigh- 
ten that blush tocrimson, that so few and jjoor returns 
have been made to Him. who has placed ns amidst so 
much pictured beauty and' painted loveliness. 

However imperfectly this Miniature may have been 
taken, it has cost the author much per[)lexity and toil. 
]n writing on ordinary subjects the difliculties are less. 
Whatever have been 'he embarrassments, if not over- 
come, they remain for some abler pen. These sketch- 
es do not pretend to pres<^nt a full length portrait, but 
only a Aliniature imperfectly drawn. It does not claim 
to have been •' taken to the life," and it is only hoped,, 
I it is held up lo the public view, that good judges^ 



^1 



72 



who possess some little f icndship for ihis villnge, and 
for the author, will say '* it is a resemblance." 

Fmally, 'he author IS well satisfied that it does nrt 
require any more talent to find fault with the book, 
than it did to write il^ and as the Piess is accessible, 
he gives, his free and full consent, for such as arc great- 
ly displeased with this, to write one and have it Ste- 

KEOTVPKD. 



THE END, 




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